A retrospective study of 322 postpartum patients identified venous thromboembolism, abnormal echocardiography, and elevated D-dimer levels as independent predictors of pulmonary embolism. A D-dimer threshold of 2.24 mg/L showed high diagnostic accuracy, with 90% specificity and 88.9% sensitivity. Clinical symptoms were uncommon, but imaging confirmed right-lung involvement in half of the cases. All affected patients received anticoagulation, resulting in 100% maternal and 98.5% infant survival. Authors emphasized that while D-dimer alone should not be used for diagnosis, significantly elevated levels warrant prompt imaging and close monitoring in postpartum women at risk.

Source: Frontiers in Medicine