Comparison of mean D-dimer levels in preeclampsia versus normal pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To compare prevalence of high D-dimer levels between pregnant women with or without preeclampsia.

Design: Comparative Cross-sectional Study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology CMH Multan, from 1^st April 2025 to 30^th September 2025.  

Methodology: Seventy (70) 3^rd trimester pregnant women aged 20-40 years were enrolled, including 35 women with preeclampsia and 35 normotensive women in comparative group. Demographic and clinical variables were recorded. D-dimer estimation was performed on platelet-poor plasma using MISPA-i2 reagent, and levels >0.5 µg/ml were considered high. Data were analyzed through SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Quantitative and categorical variables were contrasted using independent sample t-test and chi-square test, respectively, with p-value <0.05 taken substantially significant.

Results: Mean age was 30.5±5.2 years and 54% of women were obese. Women with preeclampsia were older than normotensive pregnant women (31.8±5.3 vs. 29.2±4.8 years, p=0.039). Mean D-dimer levels were significantly higher among women with preeclampsia compared to without preeclampsia (0.76±0.78 vs. 0.23±0.44 µg/ml, p<0.001). High D-dimer levels were more frequent in preeclampsia (42.9% vs. 8.6%, p=0.002). Stratified analysis showed significantly higher D-dimer levels in younger, urban, and obese women with preeclampsia. Among women aged below 30-years, prevalence of high D-dimer levels remained significantly greater in pregnant females with pre-eclampsia than without preeclampsia (38.5% versus 4.3%, p=0.016). Obese women with preeclampsia also demonstrated substantially higher D-dimer positivity during stratified subgroup analysis.

Conclusion: Pre-eclampsia was associated with elevated D-dimer levels and higher prevalence of abnormal D-dimer positivity during third trimester of pregnancy.