Acute coronary syndrome because of a scorpion sting in a patient with chronic coronary syndrome: A case report and review of the literature

Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars. 2021 Jun;49(4):328-333. doi: 10.5543/tkda.2021.08834.

Abstract

The occurrence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) following a scorpion sting has been very rarely reported in literature, and most of the cases presented had a normal coronary angiogram. The possible pathogenetic mechanisms include imbalance in blood pressure and coronary spasm caused by a combination of sympathetic excitation with subsequent thrombosis of coronary vessels developed after the release of vasoactive, inflammatory, and thrombogenic substances contained in the scorpion venom. In this report, we present a case of a scorpion sting complicated by ACS, called Kounis syndrome (KS). His coronary angiogram revealed the presence of significant stenosis of the left anterior descending artery. He was treated successfully with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, antivenom serum, and supportive therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / etiology*
  • Acute Coronary Syndrome / therapy
  • Chronic Disease
  • Coronary Stenosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Stenosis / therapy
  • Coronary Vasospasm / complications
  • Forearm
  • Humans
  • Kounis Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Kounis Syndrome / etiology*
  • Kounis Syndrome / therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Scorpion Stings / complications*
  • Scorpion Stings / therapy
  • Stents