Kounis syndrome, a disease to know: Case report and review of the literature

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2018 Mar 16;88(1):898. doi: 10.4081/monaldi.2018.898.

Abstract

The case deals with an anaphylactoid reaction to intravenous ampicillin/sulbactam resulting in cardiogenic syncope and myocardial damage. Symptoms and ECG modifications promptly disappeared after corticosteroids administration. The Kounis syndrome is an acute coronary syndrome, including coronary spasm, acute myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis, resulting from an anaphylactic or anaphylactoid or allergic or hypersensitivity insult. First described in 1991, it can be caused by a lot of substances, particularly antibiotics. The management should be directed to both the allergic reaction and the myocardial damage. The Kounis syndrome is a not rare disease that every physician should know because of the wideness of triggers and the possible fatal evolution if not promptly recognized.

Keywords: Kounis syndrome; acute coronary syndrome.; ampicillin/sulbactam; anaphylactoid reaction; coronary artery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / etiology
  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Ampicillin / administration & dosage
  • Ampicillin / adverse effects*
  • Ampicillin / therapeutic use
  • Anaphylaxis / chemically induced*
  • Anaphylaxis / complications
  • Anaphylaxis / drug therapy
  • Coronary Vasospasm / etiology
  • Humans
  • Kounis Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Kounis Syndrome / etiology
  • Male
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology
  • ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology
  • Stents
  • Sulbactam / administration & dosage
  • Sulbactam / adverse effects*
  • Sulbactam / therapeutic use
  • Thrombosis / etiology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • beta-Lactamase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • beta-Lactamase Inhibitors / therapeutic use

Substances

  • beta-Lactamase Inhibitors
  • Ampicillin
  • Sulbactam