The D-dimer levels in patients with acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injuries may reveal their chances of getting deep vein thrombosis, based on a study led by Muneaki Masuda, MD, of the Japan Labour Health and Welfare Organization Spinal Injuries Center in Iizuka, according to Neurology Advisor.
The researchers studied the epidemiology and incidence of DVT in acute traumatic cervical SCI. The study analyzed 211 SCI patients, assessing neurologic status and blood chemistry weekly one month post-injury.
The Spine Journal published the study.
Here are three findings:
1. The study found 10.4 percent of patients had DVT.
2. Those patients with DVT had paralysis categorized as C or greater on the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale.
3. The researchers found D-dimer levels two weeks post-injury could predict the likeliness of DVT development.