Reperfusion pulmonary edema after thrombolytic therapy of massive pulmonary embolism

We report here the occurrence of acute focal pulmonary edema after thrombolytic therapy for massive pulmonary embolism. Symptomatic pulmonary edema developed in a 75-yr-old man after streptokinase infusion for a massive pulmonary embolism. Repeat radiographic studies demonstrated that the edema occurred in an area of early reperfusion. Right heart catheterization showed pulmonary hypertension, and there was no clinical evidence of left ventricular failure. The edema spontaneously resolved during a second course of thrombolytic therapy that successfully lysed the remaining thrombus. We conclude that reperfusion pulmonary edema is a potential, albeit rare, complication of thrombolytic therapy for pulmonary embolism.