Login | Users Online: 532  
Home Print this page Email this page Small font sizeDefault font sizeIncrease font size   
Home | About us | Editorial board | Search | Ahead of print | Current Issue | Archives | Submit article | Instructions | Subscribe | Advertise | Contact us
 


 
Table of Contents
CASE REPORT
Year : 2014  |  Volume : 15  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 83-85  

Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage after fibrinolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction in a cocaine abuser patient


1 Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Students Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Date of Web Publication15-Nov-2014

Correspondence Address:
Isa Khaheshi
Cardiovascular Research Center, Modarres Hospital, Kaj sq, Saadat Abad, Tehran
Iran
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/1995-705X.144797

Rights and Permissions
   Abstract 

We report a 45-year-old man with antroseptal myocardial infarction who developed bilateral basal alveolar infiltrates after initiating the fibrinolytic therapy. Although thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase is generally used in the course of acute myocardial infarction and has diminished morbidity and mortality, pulmonary hemorrhage is an uncommon, but a potentially life-threatening complication that should be regarded as one of the differential diagnoses of pulmonary infiltrates or dropping hemoglobin with no apparent bleeding site.

Keywords: Alveolar infiltrates, fibrinolytic therapy, myocardial infarction, pulmonary hemorrhage, streptokinase


How to cite this article:
Mahjoob MP, Khaheshi I, Paydary K. Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage after fibrinolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction in a cocaine abuser patient. Heart Views 2014;15:83-5

How to cite this URL:
Mahjoob MP, Khaheshi I, Paydary K. Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage after fibrinolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction in a cocaine abuser patient. Heart Views [serial online] 2014 [cited 2023 Mar 25];15:83-5. Available from: https://www.heartviews.org/text.asp?2014/15/3/83/144797


   Introduction Top


The application of fibrinolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction is generally practiced to reduce the associated morbidities; however, there are rare reports of pulmonary hemorrhage attributed to the use of fibrinolytic therapy throughout the literature. In this case report, we present a 45-year-old man who developed pulmonary hemorrhage after administration of streptokinase for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.


   Case report Top


A 45-year-old male with no history of ischemic heart disease presented to the emergency department 45 min after the onset of retro-sternal chest pain which radiated to the left arm and accompanied with cold sweating. His past medical history was only indicative of cocaine and tobacco abuse for several years. Initial physical examination demonstrated a blood pressure of 145/90 mmHg, heart rate of 94/min, respiratory rate of 18/min, oral temperature of 37.4°C and oxygen saturation 95% while he was breathing ambient air. Heart and lung examinations were unremarkable.

On admission, the electrocardiography revealed sinus rhythm and elevated ST segment in V1-V4 leads and depressed ST segment in II, III, AVF, V5 and V6 leads, well-suited with the diagnosis of acute antroseptal myocardial infarction. Bed-side echocardiography showed ejection fraction of about 35% and antroseptal akinesia.

The patient was immediately transferred to the intensive care unit for cardiac monitoring and thrombolytic therapy. Pain was alleviated with nitroglycerine and morphine. An intravenous infusion of 1.5 million units of streptokinase over 50 min, followed by heparin at 900 U/h and one 325 mg tablet of aspirin and one 75 mg tablet of clopidogrel were administered.

Results of laboratory evaluation included normal levels of electrolytes and glucose. The blood urea nitrogen level was 16 mg/dl and the creatinine level was 1.3 mg/dl. The alanine aminotransferase level was 64 U/l (reference range: 8-40), the aspartate aminotransferase level 180 U/l (reference range: 8-30), the alkaline phosphatase level 130 U/l (reference range: 35-125), total bilirubin level 0.8 mg/dl (reference range: 0.2-1.2 mg/dl), the albumin level 4.4/dl (reference range: 3.7-5.5), and the total protein level 7.3 g/dl (reference range: 6.0-8.0). The white blood cell count was 11,000/mm 3 , the hematocrit was 45.9% and the platelet count was 218,000/mm 3 . Also, creatinine kinase myocardial bound/creatinine kinase equal to 597/8932 U/l and elevated troponin-I level equal to 29 ng/ml were recognized.

After 8 hours of admission, the patient gradually developed shortness of breath, hypoxemia and fever (38.5°C) and after 3 h later, cough and hemoptysis developed. Bed-side chest X-ray showed bilateral basal alveolar infiltrates. Finally, endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation was necessitated when hypoxemia (SaO 2 = 78%) and symptoms of respiratory distress were present with a respiratory rate of 40/min. Laboratory tests showed a fall in the hemoglobin level from 15.8 to 12 g/dl within 20 h, and to 9 g/dl within 48 h; so two units of packed cell were administered. Activated partial thromboplastin time was 99 s. In addition, he received four units of fresh frozen plasma and eight units of cryoglobulin with the purpose of pulmonary hemorrhage control. There was no sign of hematuria or melena. The lab tests of admission time showed normal coagulation, liver and kidney functions tests. No other bleeding site was discovered.

On the next day, the patient remained febrile (39.0°C) with constant and moderate hemoptysis. Due to the increased blood urea nitrogen and creatinine during the 72 h after admission, bed-side hemodialysis according to the nephrology consult was done for him with the impression of acute renal failure. Bronchoscopy on the 3 rd day showed no lesion in the bronchial tree and broncho-alveolar lavage was positive for hemosiderin laden macrophages (90%) and negative for acid fast bacillus. Computerized tomography of the chest on the 3 rd day revealed diffuse alveolar infiltrates [Figure 1]. The results of anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody, antinuclear antibodies, anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid antibody, peripheral antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA), and cytoplasmic ANCA were all negative.
Figure 1: Computed tomography of the chest taken 3 days after the onset of hemoptysis, revealing diffuse alveolar infiltrates. Patchy consolidations are also seen in horizontal views (a and b) coronal views, (c and d) horizontal views

Click here to view


The patient was intubated for 9 days with no significant improvement in his condition and in the 10 th hospital day his blood pressure was not detected and cardiac rhythm became asystole; in spite of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 60 min he remained pulseless and eventually expired.


   Discussion Top


Thrombolytic therapy with streptokinase is generally used in acute myocardial infarction and has obviously diminished morbidity and mortality from this condition. However, it can cause a variety of hemorrhagic and immunological complications. [1] Pulmonary hemorrhage is an uncommon but a potentially life-threatening complication of thrombolytic therapy and should be regarded as one of the differential diagnoses of pulmonary infiltrates or dropping hemoglobin after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction with no apparent bleeding site. Hemoptysis, acute anemia and new radiographic infiltrates are considered as the triad of the diagnosis. [2],[3],[4]

Pulmonary hemorrhage is usually diagnosed within 12 h to 5 days after initiating the thrombolytic therapy. Some predisposing factors include pneumonia, heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that might be related to the development of the pulmonary hemorrhage. [5],[6] A case report of immune-mediated diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage following streptokinase administration for acute myocardial infarction in a patient with pulmonary infection and concomitant cutaneous infection suggested that infections may predispose patients to developing pulmonary hemorrhage. [3]

It is noteworthy that cocaine use has been connected with both acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases which comprise acute myocardial infarction as one the acute manifestations. [7],[8] The pathogenesis of alveolar hemorrhage following thrombolytic therapy is inadequately studied. The occurrence of alveolar hemorrhage in our patient after thrombolytic therapy might be associated with the coexisting cocaine and tobacco abuse. [9]

 
   References Top

1.Anderson HV, Willerson JT. Thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med 1993;329:703-9.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.Levine MN, Goldhaber SZ, Califf RM, Gore JM, Hirsh J. Hemorrhagic complications of thrombolytic therapy in the treatment of myocardial infarction and venous thromboembolism. Chest 1992;102:364S-73.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.Swanson GA, Kaeley G, Geraci SA. Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage after streptokinase administration for acute myocardial infarction. Pharmacotherapy 1997;17:390-4.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.Gopalakrishnan D, Tioran T, Emanuel C, Clark VL. Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage complicating thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Clin Cardiol 1997;20:298-300.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.Disler LJ, Rosendorff A. Pulmonary hemorrhage following intravenous streptokinase for acute myocardial infarction. Int J Cardiol 1990;29:387-90.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.Nathan PE, Torres AV, Smith AJ, Gagliardi AJ, Rapeport KB. Spontaneous pulmonary hemorrhage following coronary thrombolysis. Chest 1992;101:1150-2.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.Lange RA, Hillis RD. Cardiovascular complications of cocaine use. N Engl J Med 2001;345:351-8.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.Mittleman MA, Mintzer D, Maclure M, Tofler GH, Sherwood JB, Muller JE. Triggering of myocardial infarction by cocaine. Circulation 1999;99:2737-41.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.Restrepo CS, Carrillo JA, Martínez S, Ojeda P, Rivera AL, Hatta A. Pulmonary complications from cocaine and cocaine-based substances: Imaging manifestations. Radiographics 2007;27:941-56.  Back to cited text no. 9
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1]


This article has been cited by
1 Alveolar Hemorrhage Following Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Myocardial Infarction: Two Case Reports and Literature Review
Imtinene Ben Mrad, Melek Ben Mrad, Zeineb Oumaya, Ihsen Zairi, Bouthaina Besbes, Khalil Ouaghlani, Sofien Kamoun, Sobhi Mleyhi, Rim Miri, Khadija Mzoughi, Sondos Kraiem
Open Access Emergency Medicine. 2021; Volume 13: 399
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
2 Republication de : Complications pulmonaires chez les consommateurs de cocaïne
M. Underner,G. Peiffer,J. Perriot,N. Jaafari
Journal Européen des Urgences et de Réanimation. 2020; 32(4): 127
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
3 Complications pulmonaires chez les consommateurs de cocaïne
M. Underner,G. Peiffer,J. Perriot,N. Jaafari
Revue des Maladies Respiratoires. 2020; 37(1): 45
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
4 Pulmonary haemorrhage following thrombolysis with streptokinase in myocardial infarction
Krishna Prasad,Parminder Singh,Kewal Kanabar,Rajesh Vijayvergiya
BMJ Case Reports. 2020; 13(1): e232308
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
5 Hémorragies intra-alvéolaires et consommation de cocaïne
M. Underner,J. Perriot,B. Wallaert,G. Peiffer,J.-C. Meurice,N. Jaafari
Revue des Maladies Respiratoires. 2018;
[Pubmed] | [DOI]



 

Top
 
  Search
 
    Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
    Access Statistics
    Email Alert *
    Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)  

 
  In this article
    Abstract
   Introduction
   Case report
   Discussion
    References
    Article Figures

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed2912    
    Printed96    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded84    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 5    

Recommend this journal