Regional and systemic D-dimer in deep vein thrombosis (v 1.1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Regional and systemic D-dimer testing in the detection of suspected deep vein thrombosis.
IRAS ID
158647
Contact name
George Geroulakos
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ealing Hospital NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) which comprises of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a serious and common medical condition. Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in a leg vein and the incidence in Europe and USA is 160 per 100,000. Pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot in the leg detaches and travels up to the lungs causing a blockage of the circulation, which often proves fatal. This is a common cause of death in hospital patients. Patients with VTE are treated with warfarin (anti-coagulant) which is associated with a risk of haemorrhage (bleeding into the brain and other vital areas). Therefore early and accurate diagnosis is required to reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism and the unnecessary exposure of patients to the associated risks of anti-coagulation therapy.
D-dimer in the blood is a clotting indicator which is measured in the diagnosis of DVT. The usual D-dimer blood test is carried out on blood taken from an arm vein. However this method is not very reliable in detecting DVT in the leg, therefore further ultrasound scans are required to confirm its presence. In this study we will determine whether D-dimer in blood samples taken from the affected area i.e. leg veins, will be more accurate in detecting DVT than from conventional arm samples. We will determine whether the leg sample in combination with the existing arm sample will improve the accuracy of this blood test in detecting DVT. Improving the accuracy of the blood test in detecting DVT has both cost and safety implications. It will benefit the NHS by reducing the number of ultrasound scans as well as the number of patients receiving unnecessary anticoagulation.REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1818
Date of REC Opinion
29 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion