Evaluation of D-dimer in the diagnosis of suspected aortic dissection.

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate plasma D-dimer as a diagnostic marker for exclusion of suspected aortic dissection (AD).

Methods: Two-hundred and sixty suspected AD patients were enrolled, including acute AD, n=107; chronic AD, n=17; acute myocardial infarction (AMI), n=70; pulmonary embolism (PE), n=18; non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), n=28; and unstable angina (UA), n=20. All patients had D-dimer testing performed (Roche Diagnostics GmbH) immediately following admission.