Diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage after fibrinolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction

We report a patient with diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage after streptokinase therapy for acute myocardial infarction. Hemoptysis, anemia, fever, jaundice, progressive bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and severe acute respiratory failure were observed. The patient required mechanical ventilation and recovered successfully. An immunological reaction to a highly antigenic agent such as streptokinase is considered in the pathogenesis of this complication.