Monocyte count is a thrombosis marker: a pilot study.

This prospective case-control study suggests that monocyte value is both an easy and useful thrombosis criterion: the value above 500 cells/mm3 correlates with thrombosis at the onset and the value below 400 cells/mm3 correlates with restoration of vessel patency; moreover this difference is similar as that observed with d-Dimer value. Also in cancer patients, the monocyte value is a specific marker of DVT/PE and correlates with restoration of vessel patency differently from d-Dimer value which is above the normal value because of cancer.  It is interesting to notice that the d-Dimer rate of change does not correlate proportionally with the restoration of the vessel patency. In addition to this, the d-Dimer mean values are affected by an high error. After checking equipment and procedures to eliminate any potential source of systematic error, measurements of d-Dimer were repeated on the same specimens. However, the great variability of the measured values did not change, suggesting that the d-Dimer does not correlate with the pathology. Further study should analyze a third variable, in conjunction with d-Dimer and monocytes. This third parameter should be a factor well recognized as independent from DTV/PE as much as possible. The variability of this third variable should be affected by variability as well as the d-Dimer.