As a sensitive and specific indicator for coagulation and secondary fibrinolysis, plasma D-dimer, a fibrin degradation product, can be used as an important indicator for the prediction of thrombosis. Evidence showed that the plasma D-dimer can not only predict thrombosis in the patients with atrial fibrillation, but also be of a certain value to guide the anticoagulant therapy. In this article, we reviewed the predictive role of plasma D-dimer for thrombosis and its clinical value in the patients with atrial fibrillation.