D-dimer tests are ordered, along with other laboratory tests and imaging scans, to help rule out, diagnose, and monitor diseases and conditions that cause hypercoagulability, a tendency to clot inappropriately. One of the most common of these conditions is DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) which involves clot formation in the deep veins of the body, most frequently in the legs. These clots may grow very large and block blood flow in the legs, causing swelling, pain, and tissue damage. It is possible for a piece of the clot to break off (this broken piece is called an embolus) and travel to other parts of the body, where the clot can cause a PE (Pulmonary embolus or embolism - blood clot in the lungs). (Read more...)
-http://www.clotcare.com/clotcare/faq_ddimertest.aspx
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-dimer
-http://www.labcorp.com/datasets/labcorp/html/chapter/mono/cf002900.htm
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Subject: What is a D-dimer test? 
Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:42 pm