Allergic recurrent coronary stent thrombosis: A mini-review of Kounis syndrome.

Kounis syndrome (KS) consists of an association between hypersensitivity reactions triggered by various environmental and pharmacological factors and acute coronary syndromes. Blood supply may be compromised by either vasospasm (type I), native plaque destabilization (type II) or stent thrombosis (type III). Although the prognosis is generally favorable, treatment should include aggressive anti-thrombotic and anti-allergic therapies. A case compatible with type III KS, manifested as a macular rash followed by two episodes of stent thrombosis after primary angioplasty (PCI) of the right coronary artery is presented, and complemented by a review on the topic.

Wasp sting induced STEMI with complete coronary artery occlusion: a case of Kounis syndrome.

A 45-year-old previously healthy man with minimal coronary artery disease on imaging presented with an acute MI after sustaining a wasp sting following previous non-eventful exposures throughout his life. This is the first case of Kounis syndrome with optical coherence tomography imaging and proven IgE wasp venom hypersensitivity. The Hymenoptera venom is composed of allergenic proteins and vasoactive amines which are responsible for venom toxicity. This patient also has a history of atopy giving a predisposition for developing IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Hymenoptera stings can be severe in atopic individuals and anaphylaxis may ensue. However, it is a rare cause of myocardial infarction (MI) (Kounis syndrome). Multiple wasp stings in the past may have contributed to sensitisation. Kounis syndrome is a rare clinical manifestation which should remain in the minds of physicians, especially with younger patients with no history of ischaemic heart disease or few risk factors.

Systemic Mastocytosis, Kounis Syndrome and Coronary Intervention: Case Report and Systematic Review.

A 72-year-old male reported a long-standing history of unexplained syncope. Stress echocardiography demonstrated inducible anterior hypokinesis, and he proceeded to percutaneous coronary intervention for an 80% stenosis of the left anterior descending artery. Thirty minutes post-procedure, he experienced a pulseless electrical activity (PEA) cardiac arrest. Urgent repeat angiography demonstrated profound coronary artery spasm consistent with Kounis syndrome. Three days later, a second PEA arrest occurred. Systemic mastocytosis was ultimately diagnosed as the cause of his recurrent syncopal episodes and cardiac arrests. Our patient was discharged 56days after his cardiac arrest on appropriate immunotherapy, and has made an excellent event-free recovery. Systemic mastocytosis is the pathological accumulation of mast cells in organs, and it may cause life-threatening syncope and cardiac arrests. It is estimated to affect up to 1 in 10,000 people, however is often underdiagnosed. No previous reviews have examined cardiac manifestations of systemic mastocytosis. We undertook a structured systematic review of cardiac presentations of systemic mastocytosis in adults, screening 619 publications. Twenty-three cases met inclusion criteria; our review suggests that short-term mortality is high (22%), and patients with cardiac presentations are predominantly male (83%). Unexplained cardiac arrest (26%) may be the first presentation of this haematological disorder. From our review of the literature, we have also derived suggested management approaches for cardiologists encountering or suspecting systemic mastocytosis in a variety of clinical scenarios.