The Relationship of D-dimer Levels and the Incident of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients at Haji Adam Malik General Hospital Medan

Abstract

Background: Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of a thrombus in deep veins, often observed in stroke patients due to immobilization and infection during hospitalization. High D-dimer levels are associated with DVT in stroke patients. This study aims to evaluate the association between D-dimer levels as a diagnostic tool for DVT in acute ischemic stroke patients. Methods: This cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted from May to August 2023. The study was carried out on acute ischemic stroke patients at Haji Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan, using consecutive sampling. Doppler ultrasound was used as the gold standard, and D-dimer data were analyzed using the SPSS program, employing the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Results: Of the 49 patients, 35 met the inclusion criteria. Among the patients, 24 (68.6%) were male, 23 (65.7%) were over 50 years old, and 30 (85.7%) had a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18-24.9. The mean D-dimer value was 2153.43 (±1506.88) ng/mL. All 21 (100%) DVT cases were asymptomatic. According to the Well's score, 15 patients scored 1 (42.8%), 20 patients (57.2%) scored 2, and the probability of DVT is in the moderate range for all 35 patients. The Fisher's Exact Test yielded a p-value of 0.028 (p<0.05). Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between D-dimer levels and the incidence of DVT in patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke. Keywords: Acute Ischemic Stroke, D-dimer, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Doppler Ultrasound