BACKGROUND: There is no specific laboratory method for the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). In this study, we

Abstract

aimed to determine the efficacy of the D-dimer test in selected cases prior to multi-detector angio-CT, which is expensive and has side effects.METHODS: Patients, over 65, with abdominal pain were included in this study. The D-dimer test was applied to 230 (34%) of 676 abdominal pain patients admitted to our emergency service. The D-dimer levels of the patients diagnosed with AMI by angio-CT were compared.RESULTS: In AMI patients sensitivity of the D-dimer test was 84.6% and the specificity was 47.9%. Elevated D-dimer levels and AF were observed in 90.9% of the patients diagnosed with AMI by CT.CONCLUSION: D-dimer levels were elevated in the AMI patients. Patients suspected of having AMI with unclear clinical results and patients with D-dimer levels above 1000 ng/ml and AF should undergo further evaluation