Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26215857›Full record

SynthesisBMC neurology2015

D-dimer for the exclusion of cerebral venous thrombosis: a meta-analysis of low risk patients with isolated headache.

Imanda M E Alons, Korné Jellema, Marieke J H Wermer, Ale Algra

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC neurology, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
23citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

23 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Observational
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. How we manage a high D-dimer.Haematologica · 2024
    Review
  9. The Utility of Quantitative D-Dimer Assay as a Biomarker in the Diagnosis and Exclusion of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis.Indian journal of hematology & blood transfusion : an official journal of Indian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion · 2024
    Article
  10. Potential role of plasma branched-chain amino acids in the differential diagnosis of acute cerebral venous thrombosis.Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism · 2023
    Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Article
  17. Review
  18. Article
  19. Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Headache.Current pain and headache reports · 2019
    Review
  20. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Imanda M E AlonsDepartment of Neurology, MCH Westeinde, Lijnbaan 32, 2501, CK, The Hague, The Netherlands. mandaalons@hotmail.com.
Korné JellemaDepartment of Neurology, MCH Westeinde, Lijnbaan 32, 2501, CK, The Hague, The Netherlands. k.jellema@mchaaglanden.nl.
Marieke J H WermerDepartment of Neurology, LUMC, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands. m.j.h.wermer@lumc.nl.
Ale AlgraDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, LUMC, Albinusdreef 2, 2333, ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands. a.algra@umcutrecht.nl.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatients with isolated headache may have cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). D-dimers are proven sensitive in excluding deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in low risk patients. We aimed to determine whether D-dimer may play the same role in low risk CVT patients with isolated headache.

methodsWe included consecutive patients suspected of CVT from our teaching hospital with isolated headache, a normal neurological examination and normal standard head CT in whom D-dimer was determined. Additionally we did a systematic review on articles describing consecutive patients suspected of CVT with isolated headache and their D-dimer values. CVT was investigated with CT or MR venography in all patients.

resultsA total of 636 consecutive patients were collected from our own data and the literature search. Of 45 CVT patients one had a negative D-dimer (7.5 %). Sensitivity of D-dimer for diagnosing CVT was 97.8 % (95 % CI: 88.2-99.6 %), specificity was 84.9 % (95 % CI: 81.8-87.7 %), positive predictive value was 33.1 % (95 % CI: 25.2-41.7 %), negative predictive value was 99.8 % (95 % CI: 98.9-100 %). Another 56 isolated headache CVT patients were identified in literature, lacking consecutive isolated headache controls. Sensitivity of D-dimer for diagnosing CVT including these patients was 87.1 % (95 % CI: 79.0-93.0 %).

conclusionsD-dimers have a high negative predictive value in patients with isolated headache for excluding CVT. Sensitivity is lower but comparable to the values accepted in PE and DVT. Low risk patients were defined as headache patients with a normal neurological examination, normal standard head CT and absence of risk factors such as pregnancy or puerperium. Normal D-dimers in these patients may reduce unnecessary imaging, making it a potential valuable marker.

Indexed as

AdultBiomarkersFemaleFibrin Fibrinogen Degradation ProductsHeadacheHumansIntracranial ThrombosisMagnetic Resonance AngiographyMaleMultidetector Computed TomographyPredictive Value of TestsRetrospective StudiesSensitivity and SpecificityVenous ThrombosisBiomarkersFibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Productsfibrin fragment D

Identifiers

PMID26215857
PMCPMC4517419

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.