Abstract
Introduction: Various biochemical and radiological tests have been studied in recent years for an accurate and early diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). As well as D-dimers, Troponin level has been noted to be raised in confirmed PE.
Aim: To study routine biochemical test results as predictors of PE.
Method: Routine biochemical results of all patients investigated with a computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) for suspected PE at our 960 bed university hospital from February 2008 to January 2009 were analysed.
Results: Of the total of 666 CTPAs performed, reports and routine blood results for 576 patients were collected and analysed:
Discussion: Our results may have been influenced by some patients having other significant pathologies and by the fact that not all patients had all the blood tests done.
An elevated D-dimer was not found to be significantly associated with a diagnosis of PE in our study. Troponin and CRP also had no diagnostic significance. Raised Urea, integral to the severity scoring in community acquired pneumonia, was, however, significant.
- © 2011 ERS