The standardized name of dimer is D-dimer, and the increase of this indicator may occur in physiological conditions, which may decrease on its own, or it may remain in this state; it may be caused by pathologic diseases, and the correction of the primary disease may lead to the decrease of the indicator.
D-dimer reflects the body’s coagulation function and the function of the fibrinolytic system. Slight increases may be seen in physiologic conditions such as the elderly and pregnant women. Slightly elevated D-dimer in the elderly does not require special treatment in the absence of organic disease, but the level will not decrease on its own. Pregnant women may have increased D-dimer, but the level will gradually decrease about one month after delivery.
Pathological diseases often cause a significant increase in D-dimer, such as pulmonary embolism, lower extremity venous thrombosis, cerebral infarction, acute cardiac infarction, connective tissue disease, malignant tumors, renal failure and so on. Only when the primary disease is corrected will the index drop.
After thrombolytic therapy in patients with cerebral or cardiac infarction, there is also a transient increase in D-dimer, but the indicator gradually decreases. The presence of D-dimer increase, it is recommended to go to the hospital for further consultation to clarify whether there is a pathological disease.