Fibrin degradation product

D-dimer (a specific fibrin degradation product): high levels are associated with Deep-vein thrombosis and PE 1).


D-dimer: a fibrin degradation product, showed a sensitivity of 97.1%, specificity of 91.2%, a negative predictive value of 99.6%, and a positive predictive value of 55.7% 2) for Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis diagnosis

A normal D-dimer level by a sensitive radioimmunoassay or ELISA may help identify patients with a low probability of cerebral venous thrombosis (Level II). However, if suspicion is high, further evaluation is indicated.

1)
Ginsberg JS, Wells PS, Kearon C, et al. Sensitivity and Specificity of a Rapid Whole-Blood Assay for D- dimer in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism. Ann Intern Med. 1998; 129:1006–1011
2)
Kosinski CM, Mull M, Schwarz M, et al. Do normal D-dimer levels reliably exclude cerebral sinus thrombosis? Stroke. 2004; 35:2820–2825