Life-Threatening tPA-Associated Angioedema: A Rare Case Report and Critical Review

Abstract

Patient: Male, 79-year-old

Final Diagnosis: Angioedema

Symptoms: Lip swelling

Clinical Procedure: —

Specialty: Critical Care Medicine

Objective:

Rare disease

Background:

Angioedema is characterized by localized self-limiting edema of the deep dermis, subcutaneous, and submucosal tissues. Acute episodes often involve the skin of the face, lips, tongue, limbs, and genitals, as well as internal areas of the body and respiratory and gastrointestinal mucosa, which could be life-threatening. Histamine and bradykinin are the most recognized vasoactive mediators in the pathophysiology of angioedema. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a fibrinolytic that is commonly used for the treatment of cerebrovascular accidents. Angioedema is a rare adverse effect of tPA, with an estimated incidence of 0.02% in patients with myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolism and 0.2% to 5.1% in patients with stroke. We report a unique case of tPA-associated angioedema with 24-h management.

Case Report:

A 79-year-old male patient presented to the Emergency Department with acute onset right-sided weakness, right-sided facial droop, and speech difficulties. Following the initial evaluation, it was determined that he was a candidate for receiving tPA therapy. On arrival at the Intensive Care Unit, he was noted to have right upper and then lower lip swelling. The patient was asymptomatic and did not show any signs concerning airway compromise. Treatment included systemic corticosteroids and antihistamines. The progression of the angioedema was further described with sequential images. The angioedema was completely resolved with treatment.

Conclusions:

Angioedema is a rare but potentially life-threatening adverse effect of tPA. Although it generally has a mild self-limiting course, it can cause life-threatening airway compromise.

Introduction

Angioedema is characterized by localized self-limiting edema of the deep dermis and subcutaneous and submucosal tissues [1]. It occurs due to a temporary increase in vascular permeability caused by the release of vasoactive mediators [1]. Histamine and bradykinin are the most recognized vasoactive mediators in the pathophysiology of angioedema. Acute episodes often involve the skin of the face, lips, tongue, limbs, and genitals, as well as internal areas of the body and respiratory and gastrointestinal mucosa, which could result in life-threatening angioedema [1]. Angioedema can be classified as mast cell-mediated or bradykinin-mediated [2]. Mast cell-mediated angioedema includes causes related to food, drugs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), latex, exercise, or allergens. It is typically associated with pruritus or urticaria. Bradykinin-mediated angioedema includes causes related to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi), dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors such as sitagliptin, hereditary and acquired C1 inhibitor deficiency, or hereditary angioedema with normal C1 inhibitor [2]. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a fibrinolytic that is commonly used for the treatment of cerebrovascular accidents. The most common complication of tPA use is intracerebral hemorrhage, among other types of bleeding, but angioedema is uncommon. The reported incidence of tPA-induced angioedema ranges from 1% to 5% [3]. We report a rare case of acquired angioedema associated with tPA administration.

Case Report

A 79-year-old male patient presented to the Emergency Department with concerns of acute-onset right-sided weakness, right-sided facial droop, and speech difficulties. He first noted right-hand weakness and loss of sensation on the right side, followed by difficulty with word finding. These symptoms started abruptly, precisely 17 min prior to presentation (Figure 1). The review of systems was otherwise negative. His past medical history was significant for primary hypertension, with treatment of lisinopril, and cigarette smoking (30-pack-year smoking history). The vital signs on presentation were as follows: temperature 36.8 °C, heart rate 61 beats/min, blood pressure 154/113 mmHg, respiratory rate 23 breaths/min, and oxygen saturation 93% on room air. The initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 6, with 1 point for each of the following elements: performs 1 out of the 2 tasks of “blink eyes” and “squeeze hands”, partial paralysis (lower face), left leg motor drift without hitting the bed, right leg motor drift without hitting the bed, right arm motor drift without hitting the bed, and mild-moderate dysarthria. Initial evaluation included computed tomography (CT) head-neck angiogram with contrast that did not show evidence of intracranial bleeding or acute abnormality of the head and neck arterial system. The patient received a tenecteplase injection of 18 mg (0.25 mg/kg) 55 min after arrival at the Emergency Department, 72 min after the onset of symptoms. The patient was then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for monitoring after thrombolytic therapy. Upon arrival to the ICU (148 min after the tenecteplase), he was noted to have right upper lip swelling (Figure 2A), which then progressed to involve the right lower lip. The patient did not notice the swelling, as he was asymptomatic. It was brought to his attention by the intensivist. The patient showed no signs of airway obstruction, with oxygen saturation levels above 90% on room air, no difficulty swallowing oral secretions, no signs of aspiration, and no changes in voice or breathing. The patient was treated with 40 mg intravenous methylprednisolone every 6 h for 4 doses and famotidine 20 mg every 12 h for 4 doses. The angioedema started improving after 1 dose of steroids and famotidine (Figure 2B). The NIHSS score the following day was 5, with improvement in dysarthria. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain without contrast showed a cortical embolic-appearing left MCA infarct, along with some mild asymptomatic hemorrhagic transformation. The angioedema entirely resolved almost 24 h after the first dose of steroids (Figure 2C). The patient was discharged from the hospital on day 5. During his follow-up clinic visit, he reported no recurrence of any swelling and an improvement in his right-side weakness.

Figure 1.

Timeline of events.

Figure 2.

The evolution of the angioedema. Photographs taken at (A) 6: 24 PM; (B) 09: 32 PM; and (C) 5: 54 PM (the following day).

Discussion

When administered within 4.5 h of the stroke window, tPA helps restore blood flow, thereby limiting the risk of brain damage and long-term functional impairment [4]. Other less common indications for the use of tPA include myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis [5]. Nonetheless, it remains the cornerstone of acute ischemic stroke management, yet appropriate patient selection and timely treatment are crucial. This use of intravenous tPA, however, does come with adverse effects, most notably intracranial hemorrhage [6]. As a result, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association established strict clinical guidelines that must be assessed before its administration [7]. Other adverse effects of tPA could include brain edema, herniation, and allergic reactions [3]. One rare adverse effect of tPA, with an estimated incidence of 0.02% in patients with myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolism and 0.2% to 5.1% in patients with stroke, is angioedema [8].

Pathophysiology

tPA is an enzyme that acts as a serum protease. Its function involves breaking down plasminogen into plasmin, which induces the desired fibrinolytic effect following an ischemic event. tPa-associated angioedema is thought to be stimulated via the activation of the kinin pathway and the complement cascade [9]. The kinin pathway is activated by the conversion of factor XII into factor XIIa, which leads to an elevation of bradykinin production [9]. Bradykinin is a potent vasodilator and pro-inflammatory peptide that stimulates vascular bradykinin B2 receptors, contributing to the occurrence of angioedema by increasing vascular permeability. Another hypothesis is that tPA and plasmin directly cleave C1 and C2, initiating the complement cascade [10]. This causes the release of anaphylatoxins such as C3a, C4a, and C5a. These major anaphylatoxins cause vasodilation and increase vascular permeability by inducing the release of basophils and degranulation of mast cells. Furthermore, brain ischemia can independently lead to autonomic dysfunction, the generation of bradykinin, and alterations in vasomotor activity. These factors collectively contribute to an increased vulnerability to angioedema [11].

Epidemiology

In 2018, Sczepanski et al reported that out of 147 patients, 4 developed severe angioedema due to tPA, resulting in an incidence of 2.72%, out of which 1 patient died. Hill et al reported a study that included 1135 patients, out of which 1.3% (95% CI 0.7%–2.2%) developed angioedema [12].

Clinical Presentation

Angioedema has most commonly been reported to occur acutely while the tPA is still infusing, yet it can also be delayed up to 24 h after tPA administration [9]. The precise onset of our patient’s symptoms following tPA administration remains unclear. Nonetheless, it was established that 148 min after the administration, the patient exhibited lip swelling, which aligns with the referenced time frame. Our conviction in the association was strengthened by this unequivocal temporal correlation between the drug’s administration and the onset of symptoms. The resulting angioedema typically occurs on the contralateral side of the ischemic hemisphere and is often limited to the orolingual area [13]. Mucosal tissue is most affected, although the edema can extend to dermal or subcutaneous tissues. In severe cases, laryngeal involvement can lead to airway collapse and severe respiratory distress, requiring intubation [14]. Case reports of angioedema remain quite scarce, possibly due to underreporting or failure to detect symptoms in the acute phase of tPA administration. Nevertheless, current literature has found that the incidence of tPA-induced angioedema is approximately 5 times greater in patients with a large stroke involving frontal, insular, and peri-insular brain regions [15]. The association of these regions to angioedema is partially thought to be due to proximity to the facial cortex but has been mainly linked to sympathetic hyperactivity and peripheral vasoconstriction [16]. The most widely documented risk factor with a 7-fold odd ratio for developing angioedema post-tPA therapy is using ACEi. Still, a clear causative etiology has not yet been established [17]. Several large-scale studies have reported an increased incidence of angioedema in patients treated with ACEi, due to their inhibition of the kinase inhibitor pathway [18–21]. A study on 120 patients treated with tPA for ischemic stroke found the incidence of angioedema to be 5% greater in patients taking ACEi when compared with the 1% incidence of patients not on medication or using other forms of antihypertensives [17,20]. As a result of these findings, treatment with ACEi has been identified as an independent predictor of angioedema development [15]. Further support for this theory comes from a prospective cohort study of 923 patients who received tPA for ischemic stroke. A higher occurrence of angioedema was found in patients who were concomitantly on ACEi, with an odds ratio of 4 even after stratification of data results [15]. Other less commonly reported risk factors for the development of angioedema include arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia. Yet, the strength of such associations remains unclear, as most of these patients are often on ACEi therapy [15].

Management and Outcomes

Currently, there are no recommended treatment guidelines for tPA-induced angioedema in patients with ischemic stroke [16]. In most cases, supportive therapy through airway protection, discontinuing the tPA infusion, and withholding ACEi is advised. Medical management is often conservative and includes a combination of steroids, antihistamines, and epinephrine. However, bradykinin-induced angioedema cannot always be treated by the aforementioned drugs since its development is based on different biochemical pathways [22]. Therefore, escalation of therapy with complement (C1)-esterase inhibitors and bradykinin inhibitors in cases of refractory angioedema may be necessary. In addition, emergent intubation may be required in cases of severe airway compromise due to the rapid progression and involvement of the larynx and hypopharynx [16]. In a recent report of 489 patients who received tPA for ischemic stroke, 2 patients with no known allergies or hereditary angioedema developed bradykinin-induced angioedema refractory to classic therapy [23]. However, both patients were concomitantly treated with ACEi [23]. One patient required intubation, while the symptoms of the second patient resolved with the use of (C1)-esterase inhibitors [23]. Studies comparing the 3-month outcomes of stroke patients treated with tPA who developed angioedema with those who did not found no significant difference in regards to patient functional scores, the evolution of systolic blood pressure, or overall mortality [15].

Our report has some limitations. First, we could not accurately specify when the angioedema started after tPA administration. Since the patient was completely asymptomatic, the swelling was noted when the patient arrived to the ICU for post-tPA monitoring. We make up for this limitation by otherwise providing a detailed timeline of events (Figure 1). Second, although ACEi use is a strong risk factor for development of tPA-induced angioedema, we cannot conclusively rule it out as the sole contributor in this case.

Conclusions

This report of a 79-year-old patient with tPA-associated angioedema offers several valuable lessons. First, the use of tPA in patients with ischemic stroke has been increasing over the last decade; therefore, healthcare workers must be aware of all the possible complications associated with it. Second, despite being uncommon, angioedema has been established as a possible life-threatening adverse effect of tPA. Third, the use of ACE inhibitors is the most important independent risk factor for the development of tPA-associated angioedema. Fourth, tPA-induced angioedema commonly has a mild self-limiting course; however, life-threatening airway compromise can happen.