Usefulness of serum D-dimer and platelet count to mean platelet volume ratio to rule out chronic periprosthetic joint infection

Abstract

Background: Diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is challenging and usually requires the evaluation of several biomarkers. Our main aim was to evaluate the usefulness of D-dimer levels as well as the platelet count (PC) to mean platelet volume (MPV) ratio serum as biomarkers to rule out chronic knee and hip infection. Methods: The study enrolled a prospective cohort of 93 patients undergoing hip or knee revision. D-dimer values, PC to MPV ratio, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were preoperatively determined and evaluated as a predictor of PJI. The definitive diagnosis of PJI was established according to the 2018 International Consensus Meeting criteria. Results: A total of 24 (25.8 %) cases were postoperatively diagnosed with PJI. The median D-dimer value was significantly higher (p < 0.001) for patients with PJI (1950 ng mL−1) than for patients with aseptic failure (700 ng mL−1). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for D-dimer, CRP and ESR was 0.820, 0.793 and 0.791 respectively. D-dimer ≥ 950 ng mL−1 (91 % sensitivity, 64 % specificity), CRP ≥ 1.95 mg dL−1 (61 % sensitivity, 90 % specificity) and ESR > 20 (74 % sensitivity, 82 % specificity) were identified as the values with the best balance between sensitivity and specificity. The mean PC to MPV ratio was 37.0 for PJI patients and 29.8 for patients in the aseptic revision cohort (p=0.067). Conclusions: Serum D-dimer levels appear very unlikely to remain normal in the presence of chronic PJI. The 91 % sensitivity when considering 950 ng mL−1 as the threshold highlights D-dimer as the most accurate initial test to rule out chronic PJI. Conversely, the PC to MPV ratio may be of limited value for accurately diagnosing PJI.