Abstract

MOLINA, P.; PRESENTACION, C.; BELTRAN, P.  and  ZORIO, E.. Kounis syndrome: a possibility to be considered as a cause of sudden cardiac death. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2012, vol.18, n.1, pp.35-38. ISSN 1988-611X.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1135-76062012000100007.

Kounis syndrome has been defined as the concurrence of an acute coronary syndromes with allergic or hypersensitivity as well as with anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reactions. The main pathophysiological mechanism is the vasospasm of epicardial coronary arteries due to increased inflammatory mediators that are released during the underlaying allergic events. We present a case of sudden death in an atopic young adult with histopathological findings of asthma and thrombosis in left anterior descending coronary artery with presence of eosinophils and mast cell. Kounis syndrome is not a rare disease but is a rarely diagnosed condition which should always be kept in mind when dealing with a cardiac sudden death with clinical history of atopy or allergy or in a context of allergic reactions.

Keywords : Anaphylaxis; Allergic angina; Sudden death; Kounis syndrome.

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