Kounis syndrome or allergic coronary vasospasm in a two-year-old

Congenit Heart Dis. 2011 Sep-Oct;6(5):499-503. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-0803.2011.00499.x. Epub 2011 Mar 21.

Abstract

Kounis syndrome is coronary vasospasm because of mast cell degranulation in the context of an allergic reaction. The syndrome has known associations with several drugs used during anesthesia, including rocuronium and isoflurane. In this case report, we discuss a 2-year-old patient who developed signs and symptoms of an acute coronary syndrome soon after anesthesia for atrial septal defect repair. A diagnostic angiography after the episode revealed diffusely small coronary arteries. Subsequent angiography after clinical improvement showed essentially normal coronary anatomy. We report the clinical course of this patient and postulate that Kounis syndrome was the explanation for his transient coronary vasospasm. To date, this is the youngest known patient with reported Kounis syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / etiology
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / therapy
  • Androstanols / adverse effects*
  • Anesthesia, General / adverse effects*
  • Anesthetics, Inhalation / adverse effects*
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Vasospasm / diagnosis*
  • Coronary Vasospasm / etiology
  • Coronary Vasospasm / therapy
  • Electrocardiography
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / surgery
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / diagnosis*
  • Hypersensitivity / etiology
  • Hypersensitivity / therapy
  • Isoflurane / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / adverse effects*
  • Rocuronium
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Androstanols
  • Anesthetics, Inhalation
  • Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents
  • Isoflurane
  • Rocuronium