Although the most common clinical use of D-dimer measurements is to rule out thromboembolic disease [1], it is also elevated in several other serious illnesses and raised levels are associated with a high risk of mortality [2]. Conversely, a low D-dimer level indicates that a life-threatening emergency presentation is unlikely, and that the patient probably has a good prognosis from the acute episode [3,4]. D-dimer is a fibrin degradation product, and is elevated in many illnesses due to the inherent coagulation process that starts while inflammation is initiated [5].
