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Is D-dimer Level Of 1100 Ng/mL A Cause For Concern?
Question: I am a 46 year old female, healthy and thin but have had mild edema in both my ankles (considerably worse in left ankle) for 1+ month along with pain behind my right knee. I have Factor V Leiden (heterozygous) and AB blood type but have never had a VTE and do not take hormones. I saw my doctor and she tested my D-dimer which came back positive at 1100 ng/mL but a doppler ultrasound of legs showed no clots. I have not had any surgeries or recent trauma and my kidney and liver tests were all normal. What is the next step? Re-test the D-dimer? I read online that elevated D-dimer levels are never normal and always have a specific cause that should be ascertained.
Brief Answer:
Yes d dimer elevation usually associated with some pathology
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
The d dimer is indeed a bit high in you. But Doppler leg has ruled out clot in leg veins. It can still be clot elsewhere, like abdomen, lungs or upper limbs. It may be a minor clot, not causing any symptoms. There are some conditions which can cause false positive elevation like rheumatoid arthritis, liver disease and high lipids in blood. These need to be ruled out.
Other conditions causing elevation in d dimer are trauma, inflammation and malignancy. We can repeat another d dimer and if it is still elevated and no confounding factor found, we need to rule out occult clot or malignancy anywhere in the body.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Yes d dimer elevation usually associated with some pathology
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
The d dimer is indeed a bit high in you. But Doppler leg has ruled out clot in leg veins. It can still be clot elsewhere, like abdomen, lungs or upper limbs. It may be a minor clot, not causing any symptoms. There are some conditions which can cause false positive elevation like rheumatoid arthritis, liver disease and high lipids in blood. These need to be ruled out.
Other conditions causing elevation in d dimer are trauma, inflammation and malignancy. We can repeat another d dimer and if it is still elevated and no confounding factor found, we need to rule out occult clot or malignancy anywhere in the body.
Hope this helps.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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