A 31-year-old woman at 20 weeks of gestation presents to the GP with a painful, swollen left leg. She has a history of long-haul air travel 4 days ago...

Question

A 31-year-old woman at 20 weeks of gestation presents to the GP with a painful, swollen left leg. She has a history of long-haul air travel 4 days ago. Her left calf is 4 cm larger than the right, with pitting oedema and tenderness. D-dimer testing is being considered. Why is D-dimer of limited utility in pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

D-dimer is physiologically elevated in pregnancy, reducing its specificity for VTE - a negative result can still be useful but a positive result does not confirm VTE

Answer

D-dimer is artificially suppressed during pregnancy

Answer

D-dimer testing is contraindicated in pregnancy

Answer

D-dimer is only elevated in the first trimester

Answer

D-dimer is unaffected by pregnancy

uk-drcog MCQ (SBA): D-dimer Limitation in Pregnancy