Tholen, I., C. Weingart, et al. (2009). "Concentration of D-dimers in healthy cats and sick cats with and without disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)." J Feline Med Surg 11(10): 842-6.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an acquired syndrome characterized by excessive activation and loss of regulation of coagulation. This leads to a potentially life-threatening deposition of fibrin throughout the microvasculature. This syndrome usually derives from one of various underlying diseases. D-dimers concentrations are considered an important criterion for diagnosis of DIC in humans. This study measured D-dimers concentrations in 48 cats with various underlying diseases and 20 healthy cats. Twelve of the 48 sick cats were diagnosed with DIC based on the presence of at least three of the following criteria: thrombocytopenia, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time or thrombin time, schistocytes, and/or a reduced antithrombin activity. The D-dimer latex agglutination test (LA) was positive for eight of 12 cats with DIC and for 16 of 36 sick cats without DIC. All healthy control cats had negative D-dimer LA tests. The comparison of sick cats with DIC and those without DIC revealed a specificity and sensitivity of the test of 56% and 67%; comparison between healthy cats and sick cats with DIC revealed a specificity and sensitivity of 100% and 67%. The D-dimer LA test appears to have limited value for diagnosis of DIC in cats. [VT]
>> PubMed Abstract
Related articles:
Brazzell, J. L. and D. L. Borjesson (2007). "Evaluation of plasma antithrombin activity and D-dimer concentration in populations of healthy cats, clinically ill cats, and cats with cardiomyopathy." Vet Clin Pathol 36(1): 79-84.
>> PubMed Abstract
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