LabD-Dimer: To order or not to order?

That’s the question when it comes to risk stratifying a patient for a pulmonary embolism with a low pretest probability. One should consider confounding conditions which may cause an elevated D-Dimer level. There’s always confusion about what may cause an elevated D-Dimer besides venous thromboemboli. So I thought I would make a pocket card as a reminder.

PV Card: D-Dimer Test


Adapted from [1] Go to ALiEM (PV) Cards for more resources.

Reference

  1. Wakai A, Gleeson A, Winter D. Role of fibrin D-dimer testing in emergency medicine. Emerg Med J. 2003;20(4):319-325. [PubMed]
Michelle Lin, MD
ALiEM Founder and CEO
Professor and Digital Innovation Lab Director
Department of Emergency Medicine
University of California, San Francisco
Michelle Lin, MD

@M_Lin

Professor of Emerg Med at UCSF-Zuckerberg SF General. ALiEM Founder @aliemteam #PostitPearls at https://t.co/50EapJORCa Bio: https://t.co/7v7cgJqNEn
Michelle Lin, MD