D-Dimer

Our body creates substances to help heal and stay healthy. Among these is a protein called D-dimer, which is a small protein made when blood clots dissolve in the body. A D-dimer test checks for D-dimer levels in the blood. D-dimer is one of the protein fragments produced when a blood clot gets dissolved in the body. It is normally undetectable or detectable at a very low level unless the body is forming and breaking down blood clots. Then, its level in the blood can significantly rise. This test detects D-dimer in the blood. Blood clotting is an essential process in the body. It prevents excessive blood loss during injury. Without blood clotting, you stand the chance of losing too much blood, which can prove fatal. In the normal course, blood clots dissolve as the injury heals. Sometimes, blood clots may not dissolve after the injury heals. In other cases, they may sometimes form without a real injury. These are typical signs of a blood clotting disorder that can prove quite dangerous. Clotting episodes are usually referred to as thrombotic episodes. A D-dimer test is conducted to eliminate the possibility of thrombotic episodes and to help diagnose other conditions related to thrombosis. For individuals at risk of thrombosis, a D-dimer blood test can determine the likely presence of a clot. The D-dimer report will let you know whether further investigations are required. Detection of blood clots is essential since they can obstruct blood flow in the body. In the legs, they can cut off supply and cause pain, swelling and tissue damage. A clot in the lungs, called a pulmonary embolism, may prevent breathing and prove fatal. The major cause of heart attacks is clots in the arteries. When an artery in the brain is blocked, it leads to a stroke. In such cases, the D-dimer test can prove exceptionally useful. In addition, the D-dimer test is very valuable in diagnosing a condition called DIC or disseminated intravascular coagulation. The body forms numerous small blood clots that leave the individual prone to excessive bleeding. In addition, the D-dimer blood test also helps understand the risk and progression in cases of pneumonia and COVID-19. Cases of venous thromboembolism or thrombosis in the veins are as prevalent in India as anywhere else in the world. Awareness of the condition is significantly lower in the country. With an incidence of about 17 for every 10,000 admissions, the cases have been noted to be on the rise, owing mainly due to greater awareness among the physician community. This increased awareness could help reduce the severity of the cases as well as the number of related deaths.