Kara, HasanBayır, AyşegülDeğirmenci, SelimKayış, Seyit AliAkıncı, MuratAk, AhmetÇelik, BülentDoğru, AliÖztürk, B.2020-03-262020-03-2620141784-32862295-3337https://dx.doi.org/10.1179/2295333714Y.0000000029https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12395/30718Objectives: The D-dimer level, fibrinogen level, and D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio are used in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, but results vary. We evaluated these parameters in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in emergency clinic patients. Methods: In this prospective study, 200 patients (pulmonary embolism, 100 patients; no pulmonary embolism, 100 patients) had D-dimer and fibrinogen levels measured before intervention. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed with computed tomography angiography or ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy. Results: Compared with patients who did not have pulmonary embolism, patients who had pulmonary embolism had significantly greater mean D-dimer level (pulmonary embolism, 6 +/- 7 mu g/ml; no pulmonary embolism, 1 +/- 1 mu g/ml; P <= 0.001) and D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio (pulmonary embolism, 3 +/- 3; no pulmonary embolism, 0.4 +/- 0.4; P <= 0.001), but similar mean fibrinogen levels (pulmonary embolism, 337 +/- 184 mg/dl; no pulmonary embolism, 384 +/- 200 mg/dl; not significant). In patients who had pulmonary embolism, mean D-dimer level and D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio were greater in high-risk than non-high-risk patients. With D-dimer cutoff 0.35 mu g/ml, sensitivity was high (100%) and specificity was low (27%) for pulmonary embolism. With D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio cutoff 0.13, sensitivity was high (100%) and specificity was low (37%) for pulmonary embolism. Conclusion: A D-dimer level <0.35 mu g/ml may exclude the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. At a D-dimer cutoff 0.5 mu g/ml and D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio cutoff 1.0, the D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio may have better specificity than D-dimer level in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, but the D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio may lack sufficient specificity in screening.en10.1179/2295333714Y.0000000029info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessThromboembolic diseaseDiagnosisUrgent careFibrin degradation productsArticle69424024525012747Q3WOS:000339727900002Q4