Open AccessD-dimer assays - A help or hindrance in suspected pulmonary thromboembolism assessment?
Author(s) -
HK Bayes,
CA O'Dowd,
Neil J Glassford,
Anne Mckay,
Scott Davidson
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of postgraduate medicine/journal of postgraduate medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.405
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 0972-2823
pISSN - 0022-3859
DOI - 10.4103/0022-3859.81863
Subject(s) - medicine , emergency department , d dimer , exact test , pulmonary embolism , pre and post test probability , emergency medicine , mann–whitney u test , prospective cohort study , pediatrics , psychiatry
Suspected pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a common presentation to acute medical units and can cause diagnostic difficulty. National guidelines on PTE management highlight the need for clinical probability assessment and D-dimer assays to ensure appropriate use of diagnostic imaging. D-dimers are used widely in UK hospitals, yet concern exists regarding their misuse.