Estimation and Assessment of D-Dimer Levels in Sudanese Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Abstract

Background: The association between pulmonary tuberculosis and a hypercoagulable state is well documented. An increased D-dimer level is linked with increasing the mortality of pulmonary tuberculosis infection. Objective: The current study aimed to the estimation and assessment of the D-dimer levels in Sudanese patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Material and Methods: This is a case control study that was conducted during March 2016 at Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Alneelain University, Khartoum, Sudan. A total of 70 subjects were included in this study, classified into two groups. The first group consists of 40 subjects, among which 30 (75%) were males and 10 (25%) were female; their mean age is 32.3 years classified as patients group; of other 30 normal healthy subjects, 15 (50%) were female and 15 (50%) were males; their mean age was 33.1 years in the second group as normal control group. The platelet poor plasma was prepared immediately from citrated blood by centrifuging at 2000 rpm for 15 minutes. The data were collected by structured interview and questionnaire, and then analyzed by using a computer program statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 21. The D-dimer levels were measured using immunometric assay (Nyco Card READER II). Result: The present study found that the D-dimer levels were statistically significantly higher in pulmonary tuberculosis patients compared to the normal healthy control groups (Mean ± SD 0.82 ± 0.54 vs. 0.33 ± 0.13 with p value 0.00). Conclusion: This study showed that Sudanese patient with pulmonary tuberculosis has increased the plasma D-dimer level, and this abnormality could be prone to Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).