icatibant and Sarcoidosis

A potential complication after intravenous administration of recombinant tissue plasminogen activators (rtPAs) for thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke is orolingual angioedema, with an incidence of 0.4%-7.9%. In the herewith reported case, we discuss potential links between a history of sarcoidosis and the occurrence of orolingual angioedema after rtPA administration. Sarcoidosis is often accompanied by an elevated ACE level. In contrast, low ACE levels appear to play a role in the pathomechanism currently assumed to trigger angioedema, that is, the activation of the bradykinin and complement pathways. Medication with ACE inhibitors is considered a risk factor for angioedema. Based on these considerations, the patient was also treated with icatibant, a bradykinin B2-receptor antagonist, which has been found useful in recent publications on treating orolingual angioedema after intravenous lysis in ischaemic stroke.

Topics: Angioedema; Bradykinin; Computed Tomography Angiography; Female; Humans; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Infusions, Intravenous; Intubation, Intratracheal; Lip; Middle Aged; Recombinant Proteins; Sarcoidosis; Thrombolytic Therapy; Tissue Plasminogen Activator; Tongue; Treatment Failure