D-Dimer in the Critically Ill

• Diagnosis of VTE in the critically ill can be challenging and these patients are at high risk for the disease
• Only 3.6% - 16% of critically ill patients have a negative d-dimer, regardless of the presence or absence of VTE
• Even in patients with low pretest probability, d-dimer in the critically ill is of limited utility

Crowther MA, et al. Neither baseline tests of molecular hypercoagulability nor D-dimer levels predict deep venous thrombosis in critically ill medical-surgical patients. Intensive Care Med 2005;31(1):48-55.