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This is a plain English summary of an original research article. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication.
An inexpensive blood test can help quickly rule out pulmonary embolism for low risk patients attending hospital outpatient or emergency departments, especially in people with early symptoms.
This review looked at the accuracy of a simple blood test called a D-dimer added to the usual diagnostic pathway and a clinical prediction rule. The test is already used to indicate the likelihood of related blood clots in the legs.
Findings from four studies suggest that a negative D-dimer result effectively rules out the diagnosis, particularly for patients with few risk factors. A positive result is less reliable and may pick up people without the condition, especially in over 65’s.
People who test positive will still need diagnostic imaging. Overall a change in the management pathway for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) have potential to be cost saving and provide better care. Commissioners, will be interested in the overall pathway costs but unfortunately these were not researched here.
Why was this study needed?
In the UK, 47,734 cases of PE were reported between 2014 and 2015. Emergency admissions for PE increased by 30% between 2008 and 2012.
A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in a blood vessel in the lungs and is often caused by a blood clot travelling up from one of the deep veins in the legs. It is potentially fatal but can be difficult to diagnose because it causes symptoms that are shared by other conditions. These include breathlessness and chest pain which may be relatively mild at first. Scans of the lungs and blood vessels are usually required to confirm the diagnosis. These may involve exposure to X-rays or other radiation.
Clinical predication rules have been developed and are widely used to assess the likelihood of PE based on risk factors such as age, prolonged inactivity, or past clot. Many people nevertheless have to have complex scans before the condition can be safely ruled out.
The D-dimer blood test measures a protein found in the blood when clots break down and if the level is low blood clots are unlikely. While the test is widely used to diagnose blood clots in the legs it is less certain how accurate this is for diagnosis of pulmonary embolus.
This review examined evidence for the accuracy of the D-dimer test in suspected pulmonary embolus.
What did this study do?
This systematic review included four cross-sectional studies published 2004 to 2012. None was from the UK.
The studies included 1,585 adults attending outpatient and A&E departments with symptoms of PE and risk assessed using a score. Three used the Wells clinical predication rule; the fourth study used the Geneva rule.
D-dimer test results were compared against one of the “gold standard” diagnostic scans used to confirm the diagnosis, such as computed tomography pulmonary angiography.
Limitations of this review include the small number of studies and the fact it was not possible to pool the results in meta-analysis. This was because of differences between the studies, such as the timing of the D-dimer test, thresholds used to define a positive result, and the diagnostic scan used.
What did it find?
- All studies found that a D-dimer test was highly sensitive; meaning in people with PE it was reliable in identifying them correctly. Three studies found test sensitivity at 91%, 94% and 100%, which suggests few false negatives, who might be falsely reassured.
- This and the linked negative predictive value, means that a negative test result effectively rules out a diagnosis of PE, especially for low risk patients scored by the clinical rule.
- The authors were unable to combine the results together as there were too few studies.
- All four studies reported high numbers of false-positives. Specificity in three studies was 45%, 49% and 63%, which was low suggesting that in people without PE a positive result might be caused by something else.
- Only one study reported the linked “positive predictive value” of 61% directly. This gives a better idea of the consequences for all people who test positive. It means that roughly 4 in ten people testing positive, initially thought to have a PE, won’t have it confirmed after a scan. This reinforces the idea that further diagnostic testing is required in people who test positive on the blood test.
What does current guidance say on this issue?
The NICE 2012 guideline on venous thromboembolic diseases states that patients with suspected PE and a “likely” two‑level PE Wells CPR score should be offered either immediate computed tomography pulmonary angiogram or anti-clotting therapy in the interim until angiography if not carried out immediately. A D‑dimer test is recommended for people in whom PE is suspected and who have an “unlikely” two‑level PE Wells score. If this is positive, then immediate angiogram (or interim anti-clotting therapy) is advised.
If the subsequent angiogram is negative, an ultrasound of the leg veins may be needed to exclude deep vein thrombosis.
What are the implications?
The serious consequences of undiagnosed PE and the difficulties of diagnosis make the D-dimer test a useful tool in emergency settings. A negative D-dimer result can reliably rule out a diagnosis of PE, particularly those at low risk according to a prediction rule. This means that these patients can be assessed for other conditions without being subjected to further costly and unnecessary scans for PE.
The review supports recommendations to choose the diagnostic test based on the suspected probability of PE. If the person is at low risk, a D-dimer is a quick and simple way of ruling this out in most situations.
Citation and Funding
Crawford F, Andras A, Welch K, et al. D-dimer test for excluding the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;(8):CD010864.
Cochrane UK and the Cochrane Vascular Group are supported by NIHR infrastructure funding.
Bibliography
British Lung Foundation. Pulmonary embolism statistics. London: British Lung Foundation; 2016.
NHS Choices. Deep vein thrombosis. London: Department of Health; 2016.
NHS Choices. Pulmonary embolism. London: Department of Health; 2015.
NHS Digital. Hospital Episode Statistics, Admitted Patient Care, England - 2014-15. Leeds: NHS Digital; 2015.
NICE. Venous thromboembolic diseases: diagnosis, management and thrombophilia testing. CG144. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; 2012.
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