Jul 26, 2021
Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD
Educational Pearls:
- Kounis syndrome is an allergic acute coronary syndrome
- Triggers include medications (antibiotics), insect bites, or other common allergens
- Believed to be due to mast cell activation, inflammatory cytokines, and platelet activation causing coronary vasospasm or plaque rupture in setting of existing atherosclerosis
- Consider Kounis syndrome in the setting of chest pain in anaphylaxis
- Treatment involves treatment of allergic reaction, although epinephrine should be used cautiously
- Avoid morphine as this can cause mast cell activation
References
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