A Case of Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage as a Possible Complication of Bivalirudin Therapy

Am J Case Rep. 2017 Oct 10:18:1081-1085. doi: 10.12659/ajcr.905721.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy. Bivalirudin is a specific and reversible direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI). CASE REPORT We report a case of severe DAH, possibly related to bivalirudin use, in a 61-year-old patient undergoing coronary intervention. The patient had presented with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). During the coronary intervention, shortly after receiving bivalirudin, the patient started having frank bleeding from the endotracheal tube and developed hemodynamic compromise. Despite aggressive intervention and intensive care, the patient died. CONCLUSIONS At this time, to our knowledge, there have been no reports of DAH associated with the use of bivalirudin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antithrombins / adverse effects*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced*
  • Hirudins / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest / therapy
  • Peptide Fragments / adverse effects*
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
  • Pulmonary Alveoli
  • Recombinant Proteins / adverse effects
  • ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction / therapy

Substances

  • Antithrombins
  • Hirudins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • bivalirudin