ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the relationships between regular pattern changes of plasma fibrinogen (Fib),D-dimer and fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) levels and the recent dissolution of thrombus in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) in 14 days after treatment.Methods A prospective study was conducted.PE patients admitted to Departments of Respiratory Disease in 4 hospitals from January 2015 to March 2016 were enrolled and all of them were treated with thrombolysis and/or anticoagulation after admission.The computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) was examined pre-treatment and 14 days post-treatment in PE patients.The pulmonary artery obstruction index (PAOI) was assessed according to the Mastora scoring method to estimate the thrombus load.The plasma Fib,D-dimer and FDP levels were measured before and on 1,2,3,5,7 and 14 days after treatment,and the relationships between the change regularities of these parameters and PAOI were also analyzed.Results A total of 42 PE patients were enrolled.The curve change of coagulation-fibrinolytic system parameters in 14 days after treatment showed that the Fib level was raised to its peak on the 3rd day after treatment and then decreased (g/L:4.24 ± 1.45 vs.3.83 ± 1.56),representing that its curve change was in accordance with the quadratic model (P =0.095).After treatment,the D-dimer and FDP levels were kept declining,they were reached the valley on 14th day [D-dimer (mg/L):1.58 ± 1.38vs.8.84 ± 6.35,FDP (mg/L):4.23 ± 3.63 vs.23.41 ± 16.54],and their curve changes were in accordance with the cubic model (F was 32.190 and 34.326,respectively both P =0.000).The PAOI variation before and 14 days after treatment [(18.77 ± 14.22)％] was not correlated with Fib variation [(1.20 ± 0.93) g/L,r =-0.194,P =0.219],but was positively correlated with D-dimer variation [(7.29 ± 7.10) mg/L] and FDP variation [(19.29 ± 18.67) mg/L,r was 0.556 and 0.460,respectively;P was 0.020 and 0.002,respectively].Conclusions The D-dimer and FDP levels are kept falling in PE patients after treatment,suggesting that the pulmonary artery embolus is being dissolved.