Role of D-Dimer in Assessment of the Severity of Community Acquired Pneumonia in Children

Abstract

Background: Pneumonia remains the leading cause of death in children under five worldwide. It accounts for about 1.6 million deaths a year in this age group - 18% of all deaths among children under five. More than 99% of all pneumonia deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Objective: To detecting the role of D-dimer in assessment of the severity and prognosis of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children. Patients and Methods: This was a cross sectional study carried out in Zagazig University Hospital, Pediatric, Microbiology and Immunology Departments. 143 children with pneumonia aged 6 months to 12 years old were included in the study that was conducted in the period from January 2019 to June 2019. Blood samples were taken from the antecubital vein with an injector and placed into citrated tubes. After they were centrifuged, the samples were evaluated with the quantitative ELISA method. Results: The study showed that plasma D-dimer levels were higher in patients with lobar or multi-lobar pneumonia than in patients with segmental pneumonia. Additionally, the present study revealed a significant area under curve with cutoff > 0.85 and with sensitivity 97% and specificity 95% of D-dimer. Conclusion: Pneumonia severity (CAP) patients showed increased plasma D-dimer levels in absence of an accompanying disease that could increase D-dimer levels.