RISK OF RECURRENT THROMBOTIC EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME AND HIGH PLASMA LEVELS OF D-DIMER

Abstract

Aim. To study the association of plasma D-dimer levels and the risk of thrombotic events in patients hospitalised with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Material and methods. The study included 70 patients, aged 34-88 years, who were admitted to the Acute Coronary Care Unit with the ACS diagnosis.Results. During the follow-up period, thrombotic events were registered in 12 patients (17%). Three patients with myocardial infarction (MI) suffered recurrent MI. Nine patients were rehospitalised with the unstable angina (UA) diagnosis. All participants were divided into quartiles by the levels of D-dimer (25% percentile 136 ng/ml; median 1250 ng/ml; and 75% percentile 2930 ng/ml). High plasma levels of D-dimer (third quartile) were associated with a 1,5-fold increase in the risk of recurrent thrombotic events among ACS patients.Conclusion. In ACS patients, plasma D-dimer levels could be regarded as one of the additional risk factors of thrombotic events.

Keywords

• coronary heart disease
• atherothrombosis
• d-dimer
• high coronary risk