Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE
Volume 15, Issue 2, Pages 122-131Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
DOI: 10.1177/1747493019876538
Keywords
D-dimer; ischemic stroke; active cancer; cryptogenic stroke; cancer-associated hypercoagulation; stroke management
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background Elevated D-dimer levels are a marker of both thrombin formation and fibrinolysis. Currently D-dimer measurement is routinely used for ruling out venous thromboembolism and diagnosis/monitoring of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Recent emerging data suggest that D-dimer may become an important biomarker in ischemic stroke as well as in cardiovascular diseases. Aims To outline the clinical utility of D-dimer in work-up and management of ischemic stroke. D-dimer measurement is most useful in stroke with active cancer as it can confirm etiologic diagnosis, predict recurrent stroke risk, and aid treatment decision in cancer-associated stroke. In cryptogenic stroke, high D-dimer levels can also provide clues for the cause of stroke as occult cancer and undetected cardiac embolic source as occult atrial fibrillation and may be helpful in treatment decision making of secondary stroke prevention. Serial D-dimer measurements should be further studied to monitor antithrombotic therapy effectiveness in both cardiogenic and cryptogenic etiologies. Conclusion Accumulating data suggests the utility of D-dimer test in the management of ischemic stroke, although the evidence is still limited. Future studies would clarify the role of D-dimer measurement in ischemic stroke.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available