Open AccessPulmonary haemorrhage following thrombolysis with streptokinase in myocardial infarction
Author(s) -
Krishna Prasad,
Parminder Singh,
Kewal Kanabar,
Rajesh Vijayvergiya
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2019-232308
Subject(s) - streptokinase , medicine , thrombolysis , myocardial infarction , complication , cardiology , respiratory distress , fibrinolytic agent , intensive care medicine , surgery , tissue plasminogen activator
Pulmonary haemorrhage is a rare but a life-threatening complication of thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI). It usually presents with anaemia, massive haemoptysis, acute-onset respiratory distress and diffuse bilateral lung infiltrates on imaging. We hereby describe two patients, who had pulmonary haemorrhage following streptokinase therapy for acute MI. The first patient improved with conservative treatment, while the second patient died due to respiratory failure. Streptokinase, a fibrin non-specific agent, is a widely used thrombolytic in low-income and middle-income countries. Pulmonary haemorrhage should be suspected in patients who develop sudden respiratory compromise after receiving thrombolytics, especially streptokinase. The management issues related to this uncommon life-threatening complication have been discussed in this article.