D-dimers are produced from which structure?

D-dimers are produced from which structure?

• A. Crosslinked and stabilised fibrin clots
• B. Plasminogen being converted to plasmin
• C. Generation of thrombin from endothelial cells
• D. Degradation of fibrinogen

Answer: (A)

D-dimers are produced when crosslinked, stabilized fibrin clots are degraded by plasmin. After thrombin converts fibrinogen to fibrin and factor XIIIa crosslinks and stabilizes the network, plasmin cleaves this crosslinked fibrin during fibrinolysis. The breakdown of these crosslinked fibrin fibers yields D-dimer fragments, which are specific to degradation of stabilized fibrin, not fibrinogen or non-crosslinked fibrin. This is why D-dimer tests reflect breakdown of clot material rather than simple fibrinogen degradation or other steps in coagulation.

D-dimers are produced when crosslinked, stabilized fibrin clots are degraded by plasmin. After thrombin converts fibrinogen to fibrin and factor XIIIa crosslinks and stabilizes the network, plasmin cleaves this crosslinked fibrin during fibrinolysis. The breakdown of these crosslinked fibrin fibers yields D-dimer fragments, which are specific to degradation of stabilized fibrin, not fibrinogen or non-crosslinked fibrin. This is why D-dimer tests reflect breakdown of clot material rather than simple fibrinogen degradation or other steps in coagulation.