Kounis syndrome secondary to amoxicillin use in an asthmatic patient

Int J Cardiol. 2011 Aug 4;150(3):e113-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2010.02.066. Epub 2010 Mar 12.

Abstract

A sixty-four year old man with a past history of hypercholesterolemia, asthma, food allergy, epilepsy and myocardial infarction was admitted to the emergency department because of a generalized erythema, nausea, vomiting, and chest pain after taking an oral dose of amoxicillin. Electrocardiography showed ST segment elevation in anterior leads. After coronary angiography, type 2 variant of Kounis syndrome was diagnosed. We present the first case of oral amoxicillin induced Kounis syndrome in an asthmatic patient with severe anaphylactic shock. The present report also shows that atopic people expressing an amplified mast cell degranulation may have more serious hemodynamic decompensation during hypersensitivity reactions. Case selective mast cell surface membrane stabilization should be considered a potential therapeutic strategy for people with food induced allergy, for atopic patients and for patients who have already experienced a first Kounis syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Amoxicillin / adverse effects*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / pathology
  • Cell Degranulation / drug effects
  • Cell Degranulation / physiology
  • Coronary Vasospasm / chemically induced*
  • Coronary Vasospasm / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Vasospasm / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mast Cells / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Ischemia / chemically induced*
  • Myocardial Ischemia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Radiography
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Amoxicillin