D-dimer serum levels in a case of type B aortic dissection. A rapid test for the early diagnosis of acute aortic disease?

This article reports on a case of acute type B aortic dissection presenting with electrocardiographic abnormalities mimicking an acute coronary syndrome, associated with high D-dimer levels in the acute phase and normalization in the chronic phase of the disease process. This case report is consistent with recent data from the literature suggesting that D-dimer levels might be a useful biochemical tool in the diagnostic work-up of patients with suspected acute aortic dissection.