Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Carlo Poma Hospital, Mantova, Italy
Daniele Focosi
North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, Italy
Mario Piergiulio Pezzo
Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Carlo Poma Hospital, Mantova, Italy
Pier Mannuccio Mannucci
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda-Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico and University of Milan, Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Milan, Italy
D-dimer, a soluble fibrin degradation product that originates from plasmin-induced degradation of cross-linked fibrin, is an important biomarker of coagulation activation and secondary fibrinolysis that is routinely used to rule out venous thromboembolism (VTE), and to evaluate the risk of VTE recurrence, as well as the optimal duration of anticoagulant therapy. Besides VTE, D-dimer may be high due to physiologic conditions, including aging, pregnancy, and strenuous physical activity. In addition, several disorders have been associated with increased D-dimer levels, ranging from disseminated intravascular coagulation to infectious diseases and cancers. Thus, it is far from unusual for hematologists to have to deal with ambulatory individuals with increased D-dimer without signs or symptoms of thrombus formation. This narrative review is dedicated to the management of these cases by the hematologist.
