[Clinical use of D-dimer in patients with cancer].

Abstract

There is a well-known close relationship between cancer and the haemostatic system. Plasma D-dimer (DD) is a marker of fibrin generation and lysis. In the clinical practice, its main use is in the diagnostic algorithms of venous thromboembolism (VTE), and it is one of the diagnostic criteria of disseminated intravacular coagulation. In patients with cancer, the specificity of DD is lower than in the general population, reducing its usefulness. However, there is a growing evidence that points out a possible application of DD in the clinical management of cancer patients as a predictor of VTE, marker of hidden cancer in patients with idiopathic VTE, or even as an independent prognostic factor of response to chemotherapy and survival. In this review, the current evidence supporting the use of DD in cancer patients is critically exposed and discussed.

• Authors: Ramón Lecumberri, Carlota Pegenaute, José A Páramo
• Journal: Medicina clinica (Med Clin (Barc)) Vol. 137 Issue 10 Pg. 453-8 (Oct 15 2011) ISSN: 1578-8989 [Electronic] Spain
• Vernacular Title: Aplicabilidad clínica de la determinación de dímero-D en pacientes con cáncer.
• PMID: 21074815 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products
• Neoplasm Proteins
• fibrin fragment D

Topics

• Algorithms
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Cohort Studies
• Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (blood, diagnosis, etiology)
• Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products (analysis)
• Humans
• Neoplasm Proteins (blood)
• Neoplasms (blood, complications, drug therapy, mortality)
• Neoplasms, Unknown Primary (blood, diagnosis)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Prognosis
• Pulmonary Embolism (blood, diagnosis, etiology)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Thrombophilia (blood, etiology)
• Venous Thrombosis (blood, diagnosis, etiology)