D-dimer is not a long-term prognostic marker following acute cerebral ischemia

Recent evidence indicates a possible role of D-dimer in the early diagnosis of ischemic stroke subtypes. Whether D-dimer can also predict the long-term outcome following ischemic stroke is controversial. To define the prognostic role of D-dimer, patients hospitalized after an acute ischemic cerebrovascular event underwent D-dimer measurement (Liatest D-D; normal level < 0.50 mu g/ml) on admission and were followed up for recurrent cerebrovascular events, occurrence of other cardiovascular events, and mortality. We enrolled 96 patients (mean age 74.9 years, 42 men). Mean follow-up was 61.5 months; 47 (48.5%) patients died, 23 (48.9%) because of a vascular event. There was no difference in mean D-dimer levels between dead patients and survivors (1.68 and 1.63 mu g/ml, P = NS), but the mortality risk was higher with D-dimer of at least 0.50 mu g/ml (odds ratio, 5.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.79-15.84). After adjustment for age and stroke subtype, the odds ratio was not significant. Mean D-dimer was similar between patients with and without a new vascular event (1.43 and 1.68 mu g/ml, P = NS), and D-dimer of at least 0.50 mu g/ml was not predictive of an increased risk of subsequent events. D-dimer levels measured in the acute phase after an acute cerebrovascular event probably do not predict the long-term clinical outcome.