Abstract.
The purpose of the current retrospective study was to determine the most sensitive and specific cutoff value of plasma D-dimer level associated with deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) after total hip (THA) or knee (TKA) joint arthroplasty. Diagnosis of DVT was determined by bilateral ascending venography pre- and postoperatively. Plasma D-dimer levels were measured by a latex photometric immunoassay system (LPIA) preoperatively and postoperatively on days 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21. Postoperative DVT diagnosed by venography was found in 22 patients (40.1%) after THA and in 18 patients (64.3%) after TKA. Plasma D-dimer levels were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in patients with DVT than in those without DVT on days 1, 7, and 10 after THA, but only on day 7 after TKA. Statistical analysis confirmed that a cutoff value of 10.0 μg/ml for D-dimer on day 7 was most sensitive (THA, 95.5%; TKA, 94.4%) and most specific (THA, 96.9%; TKA, 90.0%) in the diagnosis of DVT after THA as well as TKA. It was concluded that over 10 μg/ml of LPIA D-dimer on postoperative day 7 appears to be an indication of the occurrence of DVT after THA and TKA.
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Received: December 10, 2001 / Accepted: March 18, 2002
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Shiota, N., Sato, T., Nishida, K. et al. Changes in LPIA D-dimer levels after total hip or knee arthroplasty relevant to deep-vein thrombosis diagnosed by bilateral ascending venography. J Orthop Sci 7, 444–450 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s007760200077
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s007760200077