Last updated on 16th Oct 2021 - By Dwayne Michaels

How Abnormal D DIMER affects heart?

You need to get tested for D Dimer when you have symptoms of a blood clot or a condition that causes inappropriate blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

While clots most commonly form in the veins of the legs, they may also form in other areas as well. Measurements of D-dimer can be used to help detect clots in any of these sites. For example, clots in coronary arteries are the cause of myocardial infarction (heart attacks).

Clots may form on the lining of the heart or its valves, particularly when the heart is beating irregularly (atrial fibrillation) or when the valves are damaged.

D-dimer is a small protein fragment present in the blood after a blood clot is degraded by fibrinolysis. It is so named because it contains two D fragments of the fibrin protein joined by a cross-link.

Blood clots form whenever a blood vessel is damaged, whether thats by an injury or by atherosclerosis, or when blood flow is restricted, such as by a vessel being compressed for a long time. D-dimer is normally undetectable in the blood but it is produced when the body is trying to break down a blood clot.

Many things may affect your lab test results. These include the method each lab uses to do the test. Even if your test results are different from the normal value, you may not have a problem. To learn what the results mean for you, talk with your healthcare provider.

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An elevated D-dimer level is not normal. It's usually found after a clot has formed and is in the process of breaking down. If you are having significant formation and breakdown of blood clot in your body, your D-dimer may be elevated. A negative D-dimer test means that a blood clot is highly unlikely.

D-dimer can also be used to help test for what is called DIC or disseminated intravascular coagulation, in which blood clots form in small blood vessels throughout the body while also causing bleeding. This can be life-threatening. It is also used to check on the treatment for DIC. If D-dimer levels drop, it’s a sign that the treatment is working.

Various kits have a 93 to 95% sensitivity (true positive rate). For hospitalized patients, one study found the specificity to be about 50% (related to false positive rate) in the diagnosis of thrombotic disease.

False positive readings can be due to various causes: liver disease, high rheumatoid factor, inflammation, malignancy, trauma, pregnancy, recent surgery as well as advanced age. False negative readings can occur if the sample is taken either too early after thrombus formation or if testing is delayed for several days.

Additionally, the presence of anti-coagulation can render the test negative because it prevents thrombus extension. The anti-coagulation medications dabigatran and rivaroxaban decrease D-dimer levels but do not interfere with the D-dimer assay.