Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), which is used to treat acute cerebral infarction, may cause angioedema immediately after administration particularly in patients who are taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. On the other hand, unlike ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) do not act directly on bradykinin, and are therefore considered an alternative to ACE inhibitors in patients with bradykinin-related side effects. We report a case of orolingual angioedema in an 82-year-old male patient who is taking ARB, which occurred after rt-PA administration for acute cerebral infarction. The patient, who has been on medications for hypertension including ARB (olmesartan 40 mg/day) and for hyperuricemia, was transported to our hospital with the chief complaint of right conjugate deviation of the eyes and left hemiplegia. Head magnetic resonance imaging revealed cerebral infarction in the right mesencephalic artery area including the insular cortex. He was diagnosed with cardiogenic cerebral embolism, and rt-PA administration was started 4 h after onset. The patient developed eyelid edema 2.5 h after the start of administration, and orolingual angioedema and breathing difficulty 15.5 h after. The patient was treated with methylprednisolone, d-chlorpheniramine maleate, and famotidine, and the symptoms improved gradually in 1.5 h. We should pay attention to the occurrence of orolingual angioedema not only at the beginning of rt-PA administration but also for a long time thereafter when it is used in patients taking ARBs.
Keywords: angiotensin II receptor blocker; edema; recombinant tissue plasminogen activator.