Hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade after thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke

Neurology. 1998 Jun;50(6):1857-9. doi: 10.1212/wnl.50.6.1857.

Abstract

Hemorrhage is the major complication of IV recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) treatment for stroke. We report three patients with mild or indistinct cardiac symptoms prior to thrombolysis in whom hemodynamically significant cardiac tamponade occurred after treatment with rt-PA. Acute ischemic stroke patients may have undetected myocardial or pericardial disease that may pose a risk for hemopericardium and life-threatening tamponade after treatment with rt-PA.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Brain Ischemia / drug therapy*
  • Cardiac Tamponade / chemically induced*
  • Cardiac Tamponade / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pericardial Effusion / chemically induced*
  • Pericardial Effusion / diagnostic imaging
  • Plasminogen Activators / adverse effects*
  • Plasminogen Activators / therapeutic use
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Thrombolytic Therapy / adverse effects*
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / adverse effects*
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / therapeutic use
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Plasminogen Activators
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator