학술논문

D-dimer Testing in Pulmonary Embolism with a Focus on Potential Pitfalls: A Narrative Review
Document Type
article
Source
Diagnostics, Vol 12, Iss 11, p 2770 (2022)
Subject
D-dimer
venous thromboembolism
pulmonary embolism
pre-analytical
analytical
post-analytical
Medicine (General)
R5-920
Language
English
ISSN
2075-4418
Abstract
D-dimer is a multifaceted biomarker of concomitant activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis, which is routinely used for ruling out pulmonary embolism (PE) and/or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) combined with a clinical pretest probability assessment. The intended use of the tests depends largely on the assay used, and local guidance should be applied. D-dimer testing may suffer from diagnostic errors occurring throughout the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of the testing process. This review aims to provide an overview of D-dimer testing and its value in diagnosing PE and discusses the variables that may impact the quality of its laboratory assessment.