Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry
-
The diagnosis of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APT) and its severity is challenging. No previous study has examined whether there is a linear relation between plasma DNA concentrations and the severity of APT. We examined this hypothesis in anesthetized dogs. We also examined the changes in plasma DNA concentrations in microspheres lung embolization and whether the therapy of APT with nitrite could modify APT-induced changes in plasma DNA concentrations. In vitro DNA release from blood clots was also studied. ⋯ Cell-free DNA concentrations increase in proportion to the severity of APT, probably as a result of increasing amounts of thrombi obstructing the pulmonary vessels.