e-ISSN 1941-5923
© Am J Case Rep, 2021; 22: e927137
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.927137
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Tissue Plasminogen Activator-Induced
Angioedema Involving a Posterior Cerebral
Artery Infarct: A Case Presentation

2020.06.29
2020.10.30
2020.11.21
2021.01.14

Authors’ Contribution:
Study Design A
Data Collection B
Statistical Analysis C
Data Interpretation D
Manuscript Preparation E
Literature Search F
Funds Collection G

EF
EF
EF
E

Shahnaz Duymun
Vidhya Reddy
Emma Bentley
Anjali Bose-Kolanu

Department of Medicine, Arnot Ogden Medical Center, Elmira, NY, U.S.A.

Corresponding Author:
Conflict of interest:

Shahnaz Duymun, e-mail: sduymun23@gmail.com
None declared

Patient:
Final Diagnosis:
Symptoms:
Medication:
Clinical Procedure:
Specialty:

Female, 84-year-old
Angioedema
Angioedema
—
—
Critical Care Medicine • General and Internal Medicine

Objective:
Background:

Case Report:

Conclusions:

MeSH Keywords:

Full-text PDF:

Unusual clinical course
Angioedema is characterized by localized swelling of subcutaneous or submucosal tissue resulting from fluid
extravasation due to the loss of vascular integrity. It most commonly occurs with exposure to allergens and certain medications, namely nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.
There have been few incidences of angioedema following the administration of tissue plasminogen activator.
We describe an 84-year-old woman with a history of hypertension managed with lisinopril who presented with
an acute onset of right-sided hemiparesis, slurred speech, and right-sided hemianopsia. Urgent computed tomography of the head revealed subacute infarct of the left pons without hemorrhage. Intravenous alteplase
was administered and within 30 min our patient developed severe orolingual edema requiring emergent intubation. Subsequent imaging revealed acute to subacute infarct of the left occipital lobe in the posterior cerebral artery region, consistent with her initial presenting symptoms.
Angioedema induced by tissue plasminogen activator occurs in approximately 1–5% of patients receiving thrombolysis for ischemic stroke and can be life-threatening. The risk is increased in patients taking angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, in patients with ischemic strokes of the middle cerebral artery, and in the presence
of C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency. This phenomenon is usually self-limited and treatment is supportive, although evidence supports the use of antihistamines, steroids, epinephrine, and complement inhibitors. Due to
the severity of angioedema and the potential progression to airway compromise, it is crucial to closely monitor patients receiving tissue plasminogen activator.
Angioedema • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions • Infarction, Posterior Cerebral Artery
• Neurology • Thrombolytic Therapy • Tissue Plasminogen Activator
https://www.amjcaserep.com/abstract/index/idArt/927137

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Background
It is becoming increasingly common to use tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke,
pulmonary embolism, and ST-elevation myocardial infarctions.
Since tPA was approved in 1996, its utilization has illustrated
marked improvement in stroke recovery and decreased hospital stay [1]. Major concerns with the administration of tPA
are intracranial hemorrhage, edema, and possible brain herniation; however, other severe reactions such as hemopericardium, cardiac tamponade, angioedema, and anaphylaxis
should not be forgotten.
Angioedema induced by tPA is an infrequent, but potentially fatal outcome of thrombolysis. The mechanisms behind such reactions are presumed to involve mast cells, bradykinin release,
histamine, and the complement cascade. It primarily occurs
with infarction of the middle cerebral artery and is more likely
to occur in patients with concomitant use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and in carriers of C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency. It is mostly self-limited and treatment is usually
supportive. Some cases may require antihistamines, steroids,
and epinephrine, with refractory cases needing complement inhibitors and severe cases leading to intubation or cricothyroidotomy. In this report, we present a case of an elderly woman
who developed angioedema following tPA administration for
treatment of a posterior cerebral artery stroke, which has only
been documented in 2 other cases, as per our literature review.

Figure 1. Computed tomography at initial presentation showing
subacute infarct of the left pons indicated by the
yellow arrow.

Case Report
An 84-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department
for right-sided weakness, slurred speech, and right-sided hemianopsia after having collapsed onto the floor. She had a history of hypertension, which managed with lisinopril; chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease; and lung cancer with subsequent left upper lobectomy. Her history also included atrial fibrillation, but she had not been on anticoagulation therapy
for approximately 3 months due to gastrointestinal bleed. The
patient did not experience loss of consciousness, convulsions,
or any prodromal symptoms. Upon arrival to the Emergency
Department, she was found to have 2/5 strength of her rightsided extremities and right-sided neglect. An urgent computed tomography (CT) scan of the head was performed and
revealed a subacute infarct of the left pons with no acute
hemorrhage (Figure 1). A CT angiography was obtained and
confirmed these findings. She was given 0.9 mg/kg alteplase
intravenously, 10% as a bolus followed by an intravenous infusion of the remaining dose. Within 30 min from the onset
of infusion, she developed orolingual angioedema consisting
of tongue swelling and bilateral lip swelling requiring emergent intubation for airway protection.

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Figure 2. Repeat computed tomography showing acute to
subacute infarct with encephalomalacia involving the
left occipital lobe indicated by the red arrow.

The infusion was stopped prematurely, and the patient was given intravenous methylprednisolone 125 mg, diphenhydramine
50 mg, and famotidine 20 mg to help treat her angioedema.
The neurology and critical care teams aided in the management of her care. There was marked improvement of her angioedema within 24 h, and she was subsequently extubated
the following morning. Repeat CT of the head revealed an acute

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to occur in approximately 1–5% of patients receiving thrombolysis after an ischemic stroke, and it usually presents with
hemifacial edema contralateral to the infarct zone [3]. An extensive study done by Myslimi et al. [4] evaluated 923 patients
who received thrombolysis for stroke treatment. Of these patients, only 20 developed angioedema. A retrospective chart
review performed by Sczepanski and Bozyk [5] reviewed 147
cases, with only 4 developing edema.

Figure 3. Magnetic resonance imaging revealing an area of
ischemia supplied by the posterior cerebral artery
indicated by the green arrow.

to subacute infarct with encephalomalacia of the left occipital
lobe, which was believed to be the cause of her initial deficits
(Figure 2). Echocardiography did not reveal an atrial shunt or
evidence of thrombi. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging illustrated infarct involving the posterior cerebral artery circulation without hemorrhagic conversion (Figure 3). She was
started on full-dose aspirin as well as fluoxetine 20 mg daily for
stroke recovery. She began to work with physical therapy and
had some improvement in her motor skills as well as her vision.
During her hospitalization, she experienced persistent nausea and vomiting, ultimately controlled with promethazine.
Her anticoagulation was restarted 10 days after the onset of
her stroke. Her strength did not improve as she or her family
had hoped. Family discussions were held, and it was decided
the best course of action would be to receive hospice care at
home. She was ultimately discharged to home with hospice
on morphine sulfate, lorazepam, fluoxetine, and promethazine. She died a week later.

Discussion
Tissue plasminogen activator is commonly used to treat ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary embolism.
It is generally well tolerated and can be life-saving; however,
there are concerning adverse reactions to be mindful of, one
of which is angioedema. Angioedema induced by tPA is an uncommon but potentially fatal occurrence. It is typically observed
within 1 h of completing the tPA infusion [2]. It is postulated

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The mechanism behind this phenomenon is still unclear; however, several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this
occurrence. One hypothesis suggests a bradykinin-mediated pathway, in which tPA hydrolyzes plasminogen into plasmin, which in turn activates the kinin pathway augmenting
the production of bradykinin [5]. Bradykinin is a potent proinflammatory and pro-edematous peptide that increases vascular permeability and vasodilation, leading to angioedema.
In addition, tPA can augment histamine, causing vasodilation
[3]. Other hypotheses propose that both tPA and plasmin activate the complement pathway, increasing complement levels and in turn activating mast cells, histamine, and basophil
degranulation, which contribute to angioedema [5,6]. An additional hypothesis focuses on a mutation of the plasminogen
gene, drawing on the remarkable clinical similarity between
tPA-induced orolingual angioedema and a recently described
new subtype of hereditary angioedema with normal C1 inhibitor. This subtype is caused by a highly specific missense mutation of the plasminogen gene and the resulting presence of
the aberrant plasminogen protein is hypothesized to lead to
angioedema [7].
The risk of developing angioedema following thrombolytic administration is amplified in patients who take angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors because these drugs increase
the concentration of circulating bradykinin [8]. Additionally,
neurokinins such as substance P are increased with ACE inhibition and are mediators in inflammation and angioedema [9].
The combination of tPA-related increase in bradykinin, ACE inhibitor-mediated decrease in bradykinin metabolism, and ACE
inhibitor-related increase in neurokinin levels amplify the risk
of angioedema. For instance, in the study by Myslimi et al. [4],
among the 20 patients who developed angioedema after thrombolysis, 45% concomitantly took ACE inhibitors.
Lesion-mapping studies have been performed that concluded infarctions of the middle cerebral artery, especially the
branch that supplies the right insular cortex, have the highest propensity of causing angioedema. Ninety percent of patients who developed angioedema in the study completed
by Myslimi et al. [4] and 75% of those in the study done by
Sczepanski and Bozyk [5] had infarcts of the middle cerebral
artery. The lesion-mapping study by Frohlich et al. [3] illustrated an association with right-sided insular infarcts and the

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Table 1. Comparison of studies involving tissue plasminogen activator-associated angioedema, highlighting the location of stroke and
concomitant angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition.
Number of tPA-treated
stroke patients

Angioedema postthrombolysis

Concomitant ACEinhibition*

Myslimi et al. [4]

923

20

9

MCA (18)

Lin et al. [11]

559

5

2

MCA (5)

Engelter et al. [9]

120

2

1

Insular

Frohlich et al. [3]

136

15

10

Primarily MCA

Correia et al. [12]

236

8

5

MCA (3); Frontal (1);
Basal Ganglia (1); Others (3)

Hill et al. [13]

176

9

7

MCA/Insula (7); Brainstem (1)

Yayan [1]

n.s.

41

24

MCA (18); Insular (3);
Others (3); Not mentioned (17)

Sczepanski and Bozyk [5]

147

4

3

MCA (3); PCA (1)

Hurford et al. [10]

530

42

24

ACA (38); Lacunar (3); PCA (1)

Study

Locations of Infarct (n)

ACA – anterior cerebral artery; MCA – middle cerebral artery; n – number of infarcts in listed location correlating to number of patients
with angioedema after thrombolysis in a given study; n.s. – not specified; PCA – posterior cerebral artery. * Number of patients using
ACE inhibitors that developed angioedema after thrombolysis.

development on tPA-related angioedema. The authors postulated that insular infarcts augment sympathetic hyperactivity
due to impaired autonomic function, which in turn intensifies
proinflammatory cytokine production and vascular permeability thus causing orolingual edema [3]. It is also believed that
the tissue damage itself could be a trigger for angioedema via
the generation of bradykinin, which increases inflammation
and edema [4,8]. Our patient, however, had a posterior cerebral artery infarct, which is not consistent with this hypothesis, making our case unusual. In the retrospective institutional
study done by Sczepanski and Bozyk [5], only 1 out of 147 patients had an infarct involving the posterior cerebral artery, and
only 1 out of 42 patients in the analysis by Hurford et al. [10]
had involvement of the posterior circulation. None were detected in the lesion-mapping study by Frohlich et al. [3] or in
the meta-analysis by Yayan [1], and no alternate explanation
could be found to support angioedema following tPA treatment of a posterior circulation stroke. The Table 1 summarizes findings from multiple studies including stroke location,
development of angioedema after thrombolysis, and concomitant ACE inhibition [11–13].
Angioedema mediated by tPA is a rare and potentially lifethreatening occurrence. At the first signs of tPA-induced angioedema, hospital staff should be aware of the commonly used
interventions and medications. It is critical to discontinue the
tPA infusion when signs of angioedema occur. The 2018 guidelines for the management of tPA-induced angioedema recommend the administration of intravenous methylprednisolone

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125 mg, oral diphenhydramine 50 mg, and oral ranitidine 50
mg or famotidine 20 mg with a class IIb recommendation and
level C expert opinion [14,15]. If symptoms persist despite
these measures, epinephrine can be administered; however,
it should be administered cautiously because it may suddenly
increase blood pressure and thus the risk of intracranial hemorrhage [14]. Epinephrine would have been a reasonable alternative in this case due to the extent of angioedema that
developed. Other alternatives include fresh frozen plasma,
ecallantide (a recombinant protein that inhibits kallikrein),
and C1 esterase inhibitors, all of which have been primarily used in ACE inhibitor-triggered angioedema or C1 esterase
inhibitor deficiency but could have a role in tPA-related angioedema given the role of bradykinin [2,14]. Pahs et al. [16]
demonstrated the use of plasma-derived C1 esterase inhibitor in a case of tPA-mediated angioedema. They described a
case of potential airway compromise following tPA administration refractory to steroids and H2 blockers that ultimately
resolved with a C1 esterase inhibitor and avoided the need for
an invasive airway maneuver [16]. One last alternate therapy
involves icatibant, a selective bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist; however, this is contraindicated with concomitant use
of ACE inhibitors because they exert their vasodilating effect
via increased bradykinin concentrations [17]. In severe or refractory cases of angioedema, patients may require intubation or cricothyroidotomy.

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Conclusions
Angioedema induced by tPA is an infrequent but potentially
fatal outcome of thrombolysis occurring in 1 of 50 patients,
which increases to 1 of 10 in insular infarcts and 1 of 6 in individuals who are concomitantly using ACE inhibitors at the
time of thrombolysis [4]. Angioedema typically presents within the hour of tPA administration and can quickly compromise the airway. Due to its severity, close monitoring of these

individuals is imperative and prompt treatment is essential.
Though exposed to ACE inhibitors, our patient was found to
have an infarct of her posterior cerebral artery and developed
angioedema after thrombolysis. This combination has rarely
been documented, making this case unusual.
Conflicts of interest
None.

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