D-Dimer Predicts Disease Severity but Not Long-Term Prognosis in Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

D-dimer might be correlated with prognosis in pulmonary embolism (PE). The predictive value of plasma D-dimer for disease severity and survival was investigated in the lowest and highest D-dimer quartile among 200 patients with PE. Patients with high D-dimers were significantly more often hypotensive ( = .001), tachycardic ( = .016), or hypoxemic ( = .001). Pulmonary arterial obstruction index (PAOI) values were significantly higher in the high D-dimer quartile ( < .001). Elevated troponin I (TNI) levels ( < .001), simplified PE severity indices ≥1 ( < .001), right-to-left ventricular (RV/LV) diameter ratios ≥1 ( < .001), and thrombolysis ( = .001) were more frequent in the high D-dimer quartile. D-dimer was associated with RV/LV ratios ≥1 ( = .021), elevated PAOI ( < .001) or TNI levels ( < .001), hypotension ( < .001), tachycardia ( = .003), and hypoxemia ( < .001), but not with long-term all-cause mortality. D-dimer predicts disease severity but not long-term prognosis in acute PE, possibly due to a more aggressive treatment strategy in severely affected patients.