Novel plasma biomarkers, including selectins, microparticles, and interleukins, are being evaluated to improve the diagnostic specificity and therapeutic guidance for venous thromboembolism.
Do novel plasma biomarkers improve the diagnosis and guidance of therapy for venous thromboembolic disease?
Novel plasma biomarkers such as selectins, microparticles, and interleukins are being investigated to improve the diagnostic specificity for venous thromboembolism compared to D-dimer alone.
Primary and recurrent venous thromboembolic disease (VTE, deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) remain a significant source of morbidity and mortality in the hospitalized patient. Non-specific subjective complaints and lack of specific objective findings related to acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) complicate the diagnosis. There remains no single serum marker available to exclusively confirm the diagnosis of VTE. While D-dimer is highly sensitive and useful for diagnostic exclusion, it lacks the specificity necessary for diagnostic confirmation resulting in the need for a variety of additional studies (i.e.: duplex ultrasound, venography, V/Q scanning, helical thoracic and pelvic CT scans and pulmoary angiography). There is evolving research supporting the utility of various plasma markers as novel “biomarkers” for VTE including selectins, microparticles, interleukin-10 and other cytokines. This review attempts to examine recent literature assessing the utility of P-selectin, microparticles, D-dimer, E-selectin, thrombin, interleukins and fibrin monomers in the diagnosis and guidance of therapy for VTE.
Barnes et al. (Tue,) conducted a review in Venous thromboembolic disease. Novel biomarkers (P-selectin, microparticles, interleukins, etc.) was evaluated. Novel plasma biomarkers, including selectins, microparticles, and interleukins, are being evaluated to improve the diagnostic specificity and therapeutic guidance for venous thromboembolism.