%0 Journal Article
%T Should the cut-off value of D-dimer be elevated to exclude pulmonary embolism in acute exacerbation of COPD?
%A Akpınar, Evrim Eylem
%A Hoşgün, Derya
%A Doğanay, Beyza
%A Ataç, Gökçe Kaan
%A Gülhan, Meral
%J Journal of Thoracic Disease
%D 2013
%B 2013
%9 
%! Should the cut-off value of D-dimer be elevated to exclude pulmonary embolism in acute exacerbation of COPD?
%K 
%X Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the D-dimer levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation with and without pulmonary embolism (PE) and to attempt to define a new cut-off value for D-dimer to exclude the diagnosis of PE in patients with COPD exacerbation.  Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed between the June 2012 and January 2013. The COPD patients who were admitted to the emergency department with acute exacerbation were consecutively included. D-dimer levels were measured upon admission. All patients underwent computed tomography angiography (CTA) and Doppler ultrasonography (US) of the lower extremities.  Results: A total of 148 patients were enrolled. Fifty-three patients (36%) who did not have PE had higher than normal (>0.5 pg/mL) D-dimer levels. The D-dimer levels of the COPD patients with PE were significantly higher than those of the patients without PE (2.38±2.80 vs. 1.06±1.51 pg/mL) (P
%U https://jtd.amegroups.org/article/view/1376
%V 5
%N 4
%P 430-434
%@ 2077-6624