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What Does High D-dimer Indicate?

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Posted on Thu, 3 Apr 2014
Question: I recently went to the ER with pain in my chest when breathing deeply. They did blood tests and my D-dimer result was .64. They then did a CT which was fine. I am wondering what would cause the high D-dimer. I do have a swollen knee that they diagnosed as bursitis. Would this cause that result?
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Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer: yes, inflammation can cause increase Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic D dimer is formed from the breakdown of a certain type of fibrin ( a protein in the body that is involved in the clotting of blood). D dimer reflects ongoing activation of the hemostatic system ( the parts of the blood involved in clotting and preventing bleeding). D Dimer can go up in different scenarios including inflammation such as the inflammation of the bursa. A medical study confirmed this ( can provide name of study if you wish to take a look at it for reference-J thromb haemostat 2003 Dec;1 (12 2510-5). This is the reason that diagnosis of PE relies not only on the result of this blood test but on history, examination and other investigations including the CT you had. These additional investigations ruled out PE as the cause of the elevation in D dimer. I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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What Does High D-dimer Indicate?

Brief Answer: yes, inflammation can cause increase Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic D dimer is formed from the breakdown of a certain type of fibrin ( a protein in the body that is involved in the clotting of blood). D dimer reflects ongoing activation of the hemostatic system ( the parts of the blood involved in clotting and preventing bleeding). D Dimer can go up in different scenarios including inflammation such as the inflammation of the bursa. A medical study confirmed this ( can provide name of study if you wish to take a look at it for reference-J thromb haemostat 2003 Dec;1 (12 2510-5). This is the reason that diagnosis of PE relies not only on the result of this blood test but on history, examination and other investigations including the CT you had. These additional investigations ruled out PE as the cause of the elevation in D dimer. I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions