Skip to main content
Article
Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis of the upper extremity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of test accuracy
Blood Advances
  • Payal Patel, University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Cody Braun, Loyola University Medical Center
  • Parth Patel, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Meha Bhatt, McMaster University
  • Housne Begum, McMaster University
  • Wojtek Wiercioch, McMaster University
  • Jamie Varghese, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • David Wooldridge, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Hani J. Alturkmani, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Merrill Thomas, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Mariam Baig, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Waled Bahaj, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Rasha Khatib, Advocate Aurora Health
  • Rohan Kehar, The University of Western Ontario
  • Rakesh Ponnapureddy, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Anchal Sethi, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Ahmad Mustafa, University of Missouri-Kansas City
  • Wendy Lim, McMaster University
  • Grégoire Le Gal, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
  • Shannon M. Bates, McMaster University
  • Eddy Lang, Cumming School of Medicine
  • Marc Righini, Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève
  • Nedaa M. Husainat, University of Kansas Medical Center
  • Mohamad A. Kalot, University of Kansas Medical Center
  • Yazan Nayif Al Jabiri, Specialty Hospital, Amman
  • Robby Nieuwlaat, McMaster University
  • Holger J. Schünemann, McMaster University
  • Reem A. Mustafa, McMaster University
Affiliations

Advocate Research Institute

Publication Date
6-9-2020
Abstract

© 2020 by The American Society of Hematology. Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) accounts for ≤10% of DVT and can be associated with morbidity and mortality. Accurate diagnosis and treatment are necessary for safe and effective patient management. We systematically reviewed the accuracy of D-dimer and duplex ultrasonography (US) for the evaluation of suspected first-episode UEDVT. We searched the Cochrane Central Register, OVID MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed for eligible studies, reference lists of relevant reviews, registered trials, and relevant conference proceedings. We included prospective cross-sectional and cohort studies that evaluated test accuracy. Two investigators independently screened and collected data. The risk of bias was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 and certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework. We pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity. The review included 9 studies. The pooled estimates for D-dimer sensitivity and specificity were 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87-0.99) and 0.47 (95% CI, 0.43-0.52), respectively. The pooled estimates for duplex US sensitivity and specificity were 0.87 (95% CI, 0.73-0.94) and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.72-0.93), respectively. Certainty of evidence was moderate. In this review, we summarized the test accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of D-dimer and duplex US for this indication. The sensitivity and specificity of the tests found in the present review should be considered in the context of whether they are used alone or in combination, which is dependent on the prevalence of disease in the population, the clinical setting in which the patient is being evaluated, cost, potential harms, and patient outcomes.

Document Type
Article
PubMed ID
32511715
Citation Information

Patel P, Braun C, Patel P, et al. Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis of the upper extremity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of test accuracy. Blood Adv. 2020;4(11):2516-2522. doi:10.1182/bloodadvances.2019001409