Case: Consistent D-dimer Elevation

A 35-YO woman experiences fatigue. The attached table [click] illustrates typical laboratory findings consistent over 18 months: reduced MCV, MCH, and MCHC, and mildly elevated ESR, CRP, and D-dimer. She reports that she has sickle-thalassemia, which accounts for her slightly decreased RBC indices. Please refer to our August Quick Question on the right, and choose the most likely cause of her consistently increased D-dimer. Please provide your discussion by clicking the comments box and add your impression of her ESR and CRP results.