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.

Methodology: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CMH Multan, from April 2025, to September 2025. Seventy (70) third-trimester pregnant women aged 20–40 years were enrolled, including 35 women with preeclampsia and 35 normotensive women in the comparison group. Demographic and clinical variables were recorded. D-dimer levels were estimated in platelet-poor plasma using MISPA-i2 reagent, and levels >0.5 µg/mL were considered elevated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Quantitative and categorical variables were compared using the independent-samples t-test and chi-square test, respectively. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically 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 (22.9% vs. 2.9%, p=0.028). 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% vs. 0%, p-value = 0.003), in primigravida (46.2% vs. 6.3%, p-value=0.026) and with obesity (28.6% vs. 3.8%, p=0.025).

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