We studied 84 consecutive patients referred with the suspicion of pulmonary embolism (PE) to investigate the influence of clinical and hematological profiles on the diagnosis and severity of this disease and recovery. Diagnosis of PE was confirmed in 48 out of 84 patients by perfusion scintigraphy and/or pulmonary arteriography. Severity of PE and entity of recovery were investigated by measuring standard PaO2 on blood gas analysis and the number of unperfused lung segments ULS on perfusion scintigraphy. Most common clinical predisposing conditions were more frequent, though not significantly so, in embolic patients and a very low prevalence of PE was appreciable in patients without clear predisposing conditions. Among coagulation factors, only thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes were twice as high in embolic as in nonembolic patients (14.0 ± 13.6 vs. 7.0 ± 4.2 ng/ml; p < 0.02), while there was no statistically significant difference between embolic and nonembolic patients for activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, antithrombin III, protein C, fibrinogen, plasminogen, α2-plasmin inhibitor, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Sensitivity and specificity of TAT complexes in diagnosis of PE were 95.8% and 30.5%, respectively. Therefore, normal values of TAT complexes may help exclude the diagnosis of PE, while abnormal values allow to reinforce the clinical suspicion of PE. No relation was found between coagulation parameters and the severity of PE. The follow-up of 48 patients with confirmed PE was favorable on the average; however, neither the presence of predisposing conditions nor abnormal coagulation parameters allow to predict the degree of functional and scintigraphic improvement during follow-up.

Keywords:
Pulmonary embolism, Clinical profile, Coagulation disorders, Thrombin-antithrombin complexes
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1994 S. Karger AG, Basel
1994
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.