Accuracy of D-Dimers to diagnose aortic dissection and its different types keeping CT angiogram as gold standard.

Authors

  • Saqib Qayyum Al Khidmat Raazi Hospital Chandni Chowk Rawalpindi.
  • Muhammad Taimur Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi.
  • Nadia Attiq Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi.
  • Mahvish Noor Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi.
  • Athar Badshah Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi.
  • Muhammad Imran Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29309/TPMJ/2025.32.07.9137

Keywords:

Accuracy, Aortic Dissection, Angiography, Computed Tomography, Diagnosis, D-dimers Levels

Abstract

Objective: To determine diagnostic accuracy of D-dimers levels to diagnose aortic dissection and its different types keeping computed tomographic angiogram as gold standard. Study Design: Cross-sectional Validation study. Setting: Department of Vascular Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi. Period: 1st December 2023 to 31st May 2024. Methods: Patients presenting with acute onset “tearing” chest pain with suspicion of aortic dissection were included in the study. Their D-dimer levels and CT angiography were performed in all patients. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of D-dimers to diagnose aortic dissection were calculated. Data was analyzed using SPSS 22. Results: A total number of 74 patients were included in this study. In this study, sensitivity of D-dimer levels to diagnose aortic dissection was 90.00% while specificity was 71.43%. For aortic dissection diagnosis positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of D-dimers levels were 93.10%, 62.50% and 86.49%, respectively. Based on CT Angiogram, there were 47 (63.51%) Stanford type A – Aortic dissection patients while 27 (36.49%) patients were of Stanford type B – Aortic dissection. In Stanford type A – Aortic dissection patients’ sensitivity and specificity were 95% and 41% while in Stanford type B – aortic dissection patients’ sensitivity and specificity were 80% and 22.22%. Accuracy of D-dimers levels to diagnose Type A – Aortic dissection and Type B – Aortic dissection was 70.27% & 37.84% respectively. Conclusion: D-dimers levels can serve as an effective tool to diagnose aortic dissection, in particular for Stanford Type A – Aortic dissection.

Author Biographies

Saqib Qayyum, Al Khidmat Raazi Hospital Chandni Chowk Rawalpindi.

MBBS, FCPS, Ex Senior Registrar Vascular Surgery CMH, Rawalpindi. Visiting Consultant General Surgeon & Vascular Surgeon, 

Muhammad Taimur, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi.

MBBS, FCPS, Assistant Professor Surgery, 

Nadia Attiq, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi.

MBBS, FCPS, Senior Registrar Surgery, 

Mahvish Noor, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi.

MBBS, FCPS, Senior Registrar Surgery, 

Athar Badshah, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi.

MBBS, FCPS, Associate Professor Surgery, 

Muhammad Imran, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi.

MBBS, FCPS, Associate Professor Surgery, 

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Published

2025-07-01

Issue

Section

Origianl Article