Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with hemostatic abnormalities even during oral anticoagulant therapy. D-Dimer levels reflect a prothrombogenic state and thus might serve as a marker of thromboembolic (TE) and cardiovascular events.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether elevated D-Dimer levels can predict subsequent thromboembolic and cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation during oral anticoagulant therapy.

Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study. Patients with AF (41 patients, mean age 63.6 ± 9.38) were treated with vitamin K antagonist ( Target Prothrombin level-International Normalized Ratio: 2.0 to 3.0). D-Dimer levels were measured to evaluate the relationship of this parameter with thromboembolic and cardiovascular events.

Results: The average level of D-Dimer was 356.82 ± 497 (20-3070) at entry and 215.88 ± 127.08 after one moth. This rate was high (> 500µg/l) in 05 patients (12,20%). During a follow-up period of four months, 02 patients developed thromboembolic event (Stroke), 01 patient had cardiovascular event (heart failure) and 03 patients had bleeding complications. Patients with high D-Dimer levels experienced higher thromboembolic and cardiovascular events. It was found that high d-Dimer levels were associated with TE (ρ < 0.05) and cardiovascular (ρ < 0.05) complications.

Conclusions: D-Dimer is a useful marker for thromboembolic and cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation during oral anticoagulant therapy.

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ISTH Congress Abstracts - https://abstracts.isth.org/abstract/usefulness-of-d-dimers-levels-determination-in-the-prediction-of-thromboembolic-and-cardiovascular-events-in-patients-with-atrial-fibrillation-during-anticoagulant-therapy/