BACKGROUND:
Early diagnosis is the main factor to improve the outcome of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). The goal of this study was to assess the correlation of the D-dimer test and biphasic computed tomography (CT) with mesenteric CT angiography for the diagnosis of AMI.
METHODS:
Selected consecutive patients with a clinical suspicion of AMI were admitted to the study.
Blood samples were taken before biphasic CT with mesenteric CT angiography examination.
RESULTS:
The sensitivity and specificity values of biphasic CT with mesenteric CT angiography were 92.9% and 89.5%, respectively.
The sensitivity and specificity of D-dimer testing for the diagnosis of AMI were 94.7% and 78.6%, respectively. D-dimer levels higher than 3.17 microg fibrinogen equivalent units/mL were more specific (P < .0001) and acted similarly to the biphasic CT with mesenteric CT angiography in the diagnosis of AMI.
CONCLUSIONS:
In the setting of early diagnosis of AMI, the D-dimer test may improve our ability to diagnose patients in whom we cannot use multidetector row CT with CT angiography.
2009-03-27
Eng.
American Journal of Surgery
Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey. hyakyildiz [at] gmail.com
Am J Surg. 2009 Apr;197(4):429-33
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