What it means
When the body breaks down a clot (fibrinolysisfy-brin-OL-ih-sisThe body's process of breaking down a blood clot once it is no longer needed.fibrin/o fibrin, the protein threads of a clot-lysis breaking downFull entry ), fragments called D-dimers appear in the blood. A normal result makes a significant clot, such as a deep vein thrombosisDEEP VAYN throm-BOH-sisA blood clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg or pelvis.thromb/o clot-osis conditionFull entry or pulmonary embolismPUL-muh-nair-ee EM-buh-liz-umA blockage of an artery in the lungs, usually by a blood clot that has traveled there from elsewhere in the body.pulmon/o lung-ary relating toembol/o plug-ism conditionFull entry , unlikely. A high result is not specific: it can come from clots but also from recent surgery, pregnancy, infection, cancer, older age or disseminated intravascular coagulationdih-SEM-ih-nay-tid in-truh-VAS-kyuh-ler koh-ag-yuh-LAY-shunA disorder in which clotting is switched on throughout the blood vessels until the clotting factors are used up.intra- withinvascul/o vesselcoagul/o clottingFull entry , so more tests are usually needed.
For the nurse
Know the reason for the test and look for signs of a clot: one-sided leg swelling and pain, or sudden shortness of breath and chest pain.
At a glance
| Normal range | Below 500 ng/mL FEU [below 0.5 mg/L FEU]; labs and units vary. |
|---|---|
| Also written | D dimer, d-dimer |
Related terms
deep vein thrombosis
A blood clot in a deep vein, most often in the leg or pelvis.
pulmonary embolism
A blockage of an artery in the lungs, usually by a blood clot that has traveled there from elsewhere in the body.
disseminated intravascular coagulation
A disorder in which clotting is switched on throughout the blood vessels until the clotting factors are used up.
fibrinolysis
The body's process of breaking down a blood clot once it is no longer needed.