The Delayed Diagnosis of a Submassive Pulmonary Embolism Following Influenza A Infection Treated With Half-Dose Tenecteplase: A Case Report.

The Delayed Diagnosis of a Submassive Pulmonary Embolism Following Influenza A Infection Treated With Half-Dose Tenecteplase: A Case Report.

Publication date: Aug 01, 2024

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought renewed attention to thrombotic complications arising from respiratory viral infections, driven by inflammatory responses and activation of the coagulation cascade. While influenza typically resolves on its own, information about its thromboembolic risks remains limited. The persistence of symptoms and the similarity between influenza symptoms and those of pulmonary embolism (PE) often lead to diagnostic delays, which can significantly impact patient outcomes. We discuss a case of a 62-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia who presented with dyspnea, syncope, and persistent symptoms following influenza A infection. Despite initial treatment with Tamiflu and subsequent antibiotics for presumed pneumonia, her condition worsened, leading to syncope and admission to the hospital. A diagnostic workup revealed saddle pulmonary emboli with right ventricular strain. She was treated with a half-dose of tenecteplase, resulting in significant clinical improvement and a notable reduction in thrombus burden on follow-up imaging. The thromboembolic complications of influenza A are not extensively documented compared to COVID-19, yet they can present with severe outcomes. Submassive PE, characterized by hemodynamic stability with signs of right ventricular strain, poses treatment challenges. While full-dose thrombolytics are generally avoided in intermediate-risk PE due to bleeding risks, half-dose thrombolytics such as tenecteplase can offer a safer alternative. Though not FDA-approved specifically for PE, tenecteplase has shown efficacy and was effectively used in this case. Half-dose thrombolytics, including tenecteplase, may be a viable treatment option for certain cases of PE, offering a balance between efficacy and safety. This case highlights the importance of considering PE in patients with persistent respiratory symptoms post-influenza and demonstrates the potential of tenecteplase in managing submassive PE.

Concepts Keywords
Hemodynamic influenza a infection
Old saddle pulmonary embolism
Pneumonia submassive pulmonary embolism
Tenecteplase tenecteplase
Viral

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH Pulmonary Embolism
pathway KEGG Influenza A
disease MESH Infection
drug DRUGBANK Tenecteplase
disease MESH COVID-19
disease MESH complications
disease MESH viral infections
disease MESH influenza
disease IDO history
disease MESH hypertension
disease MESH hyperlipidemia
disease MESH dyspnea
disease MESH syncope
disease MESH pneumonia
disease MESH thrombus
disease MESH bleeding
drug DRUGBANK Isoxaflutole

Original Article

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