title: Thrombolytic-related complication in a case of misdiagnosed myocardial infarction.
abstract: The importance of early thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction has been highlighted in several large trials. The clinical decision is often taken by physicians who need to take a rapid action with the risk of misdiagnosing non-coronary events that mimic myocardial infarction. Here we describe a case of acute pericarditis in a 37-year-old man whom received thrombolysis and developed a sudden hemorrhagic pericardial effusion that evolved rapidly into a cardiac tamponade. These errors leading to lethal thrombolysis complications have been surprisingly rare; but a correct diagnosis of aortic dissection or hemorrhagic pericarditis needs to be stressed because even after obtaining the correct diagnosis, the prolonged disturbance of hemostasis prevents a rapid therapy being instigated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Woodhull Medical Center , Brooklyn, New York , USA.
authors.forename: Osereme
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Irivbogbe
authors.forename: Brooks
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mirrer
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loarte
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gale
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator