engleski

Follow up of D-dimer values in patients with hip injuries

D-dimer represents a measure of both clot formation and clot lysis. Their determination represents a non-invasive marker to rule out venous thromboembolism (VTE). The aim of our study was to determine the concentration of D-dimer in elderly patients with hip fractures immediately after injury and subsequently during their hospitalization. D-dimers were measured in 70 patients (11 men, 59 women) aged from 62 to 95 years in citrated plasma samples by using the immunofiltration method (Nycocard, Axis Shield, Norway) on the Nycocard Reader II. Obtained values ranged from 0.2 to 19.1 mg/l (median 4.1) and were above cut off value (>0.3 mg/l) in 99% patients. The determination was repeated in plasma samples of 15 patients with initial values > 2.0 mg/L on the fourth day after injury before surgery, and in a week after surgery. Decreased levels were observed in all patients before surgery as compared to initial values (0.2-2.7 mg/L). After surgery D-dimer levels continued to decrease in 2 patients whilst they increased in 13 patients. According to our results fibrinolysis is markedly increased immediately after injury. Since a second rise of D-dimer levels were observed after surgery we propose further determinations for excluding postoperative complications (VTE).

D-dimer; hip injury

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