Diagnostic value of plasma D-dimer and fibrinogen in acute lower extremity deep vein thrombosis after artificial joint replacement

Abstract

Objective To evaluate diagnostic value of plasma D-dimer (D-D),fibrinogen (Fg) and Ddimer/fibrinogen (D/F) ratio in acute lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after artificial joint replacement.Methods From August 2009 to December 2011,273 patients who had undergone total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) underwent venography of lower extremity deep vein at 35 days postoperatively.According to results of angiography,all patients were divided into DVT group including 66 patients (15 males and 51 females,median age 66 years) and non-DVT group including 207 patients (70 males and 137 females,median age 63 years).Plasma levels of D-D and Fg were measured by immunoturbidimetry and solidification methods respectively preoperatively and at 3-5 days postoperatively.The differences of plasma levels of D-D and Fg and D/F ratio between the two groups were analyzed with statistical method.Furthermore,diagnostic value of postoperative plasma D-D and D/F ratio in acute DVT was assessed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results There was no statistical significance in preoperative plasma levels of D-D and Fg,and postoperative plasma levels of Fg between two groups.However,the postoperative plasma levels of D-D and D/F ratio were higher in the DVT group than those in the nonDVT group,and there was significant difference between two groups.In addition,the ROC curve analysis showed that the area under curve of postoperative plasma D-D and D/F ratio was 0.688 and 0.684,respectively,but this difference did not reach statistical significance.Conclusion Plasma Fg may be meaningless for the diagnosis of acute DVT after artificial joint replacement.Although plasma D-D and D/F ratio may be useful for diagnosing acute DVT,the diagnostic accuracy is low. Key words: Fibrinogen; Venous thrombosis; Arthroplasty,replacement