D-Dimer

Overview:

D-dimer is a small fragment left behind when the body dissolves a blood clot. A raised level shows that clot formation and breakdown have been happening somewhere, but not where or why. Its real strength is the opposite case: in a person assessed as low risk, a normal D-dimer makes deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism very unlikely, which can avoid the need for imaging. Levels rise in many other situations, including infection, recent surgery, injury, cancer, pregnancy and increasing age, so a raised result on its own is not evidence of a clot.

Categories:

Blood

Biomarkers:

1 biomarker