J Emerg Med
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Review Meta Analysis
Serum D-dimer is a sensitive test for the detection of acute aortic dissection: a pooled meta-analysis.
Acute aortic dissection is a rare but devastating condition with high mortality. Unfortunately, there is no sensitive screening indicator of disease in common use. The objective of this study was to assess the sensitivity and utility of the serum D-dimer as a test for acute aortic dissection. ⋯ The sensitivity of the D-dimer test was 327/349, 94% (95% confidence interval 91-96), and the point estimate was essentially unchanged in a sensitivity analysis, 183/192, 95% (95% confidence interval 91-98). Specificity ranged from 40% to 100%. Serum D-dimer is sensitive for acute aortic dissection and potentially represents a useful test for patients who present with a low likelihood of this disease.