Hydrochlorothiazide-induced acute pulmonary edema

To describe a patient with noncardiogenic acute pulmonary edema induced by hydrochlorothiazide.

A 70-year-old woman in generally good health, except for mild pedal edema, developed acute pulmonary edema after ingesting hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg for the first time.

This is the fifteenth reported case of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema induced by hydrochlorothiazide. The investigations by previous authors seemed to rule out an immunologic mechanism; thus, the pathogenesis of the reaction is unknown. Most of the reactions have occurred in women.

Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema appears to be an idiosyncratic reaction that occurs with some specificity with the thiazide diuretics. Clinicians should be aware of this potential, serious adverse reaction that occurs without warning.