A study of modified Wells score for pulmonary embolism and age-adjusted D-dimer values in patients at risk for deep venous thrombosis.

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the most severe complication of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of modified Wells score combined with age-adjusted D-dimer cut-off levels as a clinical pre-test probability assessment for predicting PE in patients 'at risk for DVT.' This was a cross-sectional study including 200 in-patients at risk for DVT. Patients were categorized as 'pulmonary embolism unlikely' or 'pulmonary embolism likely' using modified Wells score and underwent D-dimer testing. PE was considered excluded in patients classified as unlikely with normal D-dimer levels, whereas the rest of the patients underwent computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA). Out of 200 patients, 163 patients (81.50%) were 'pulmonary embolism unlikely,' whereas 37 patients (18.50%) were 'pulmonary embolism likely.' Of 163 patients categorized as 'pulmonary embolism unlikely,' 67 patients (41.5%) had normal D-dimer values and were excluded from CTPA. PE was detected in 24.2% of the patients who underwent CTPA. The combined strategy using modified Wells score and age-adjusted D-dimer cut-off value has 100% sensitivity and a negative predictive value and can be used to safely exclude PE in in-patients.