Oropharyngeal angioneurotic edema due to recombinant tissue plasminogen activator following massive pulmonary thromboembolism.

Although hypersensitivity reactions secondary to recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) are rarely encountered, they may have important consequences. In this case presentation, oropharyngeal angioneurotic edema due to rtPA following pulmonary thromboembolism is presented. On the 4th hour of initiation of treatment, throat pain, laryngeal stridor and expansive edema in the neck ensued, upon which the patient was intubated and mechanically ventilated. The patient was extubated after her findings showed a remission on the 48th hour of his inotropic, antihistaminic and intravenous corticosteroid therapy.