To explore the diagnostic value of combined detection of D-dimer (DD) and cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients complicated with acute cerebral infarction (ACI).

Forty AF patients, 40 ACI patients, and 40 AF patients complicated with ACI, admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University or the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University from October 2014 to October 2016, were selected as the observation groups. Meanwhile, 40 healthy subjects taking the physical examination in our hospitals were selected as the control group. The plasma DD and CARP levels were determined and compared in the four groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the value of DD, CARP and the combined indexes for the diagnosis of AF complicated with ACI.

There were significant differences in the plasma DD and CARP levels among the four groups (F = 25.874, 12.474; both P < 0.001). Further pairwise comparison showed that the DD level was higher in the AF, ACI and AF + ACI groups than in the control group [(0.53 ± 0.45), (0.92 ± 0.60), (1.00 ± 0.45), (0.24 ± 0.11) mg/L; all P < 0.05], and it was higher in the ACI and AF + ACI groups than in the AF group (both P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the CARP level was higher in the AF and AF + ACI groups than in the ACI and control groups [(10 ± 5), (11 ± 4), (7 ± 4), (6 ± 3) ng/L; all P < 0.05]. The combined detection of DD and CARP was superior to the detection of DD (Z = 1.984, P = 0.047) or CARP (Z = 2.762, P = 0.006) alone in diagnosing AF complicated with ACI.

The combined detection of DD and CARP is more helpful in the diagnosis of AF complicated with ACI, with guiding value in clinical treatment.