What causes high D-dimer levels?

Elevated D-dimer levels may be caused by various factors. 1. It could be due to physiological factors. For example, during pregnancy, women may experience a physiological increase in D-dimer levels due to a hypercoagulable state of the blood. 2. Elevated D-dimer levels may also be caused by diseases, such as thromboembolic disorders (e.g., pulmonary embolism, lower extremity venous thrombosis) and malignancies (e.g., ovarian cancer, lung cancer). These conditions can affect coagulation function, leading to increased D-dimer levels. 3. Medications (e.g., oral contraceptives) and genetic factors (e.g., deficiency of certain anticoagulant factors or abnormal fibrin metabolism) may also contribute to elevated D-dimer levels. It is important to note that an elevated D-dimer level does not necessarily indicate the presence of a disease and must be interpreted in conjunction with other clinical findings. If D-dimer levels remain persistently elevated or are accompanied by other symptoms, prompt medical evaluation is recommended.