Carta científica

Tratamiento del síndrome de KounisTreatment of Kounis syndrome

A síndrome de Kounis é definida como a ocorrência concomitante de reação alérgica e síndrome coronariana aguda secundária ao vasoespasmo. Os medicamentos anti‐inflamatórios estão incluídos como uma das múltiplas causas. Os dados atuais disponíveis sobre essa síndrome são provenientes de relatos de caso. Relatamos o caso de um paciente que apresentou síndrome de Kounis com choque cardiogênico e assistolia após infusão intravenosa de metamizol e no qual não foram observadas lesões na coronariografia.

Kounis syndrome is defined as the coincidental occurrence of allergic reaction and acute coronary syndrome secondary to vasospasm. Anti‐inflammatory drugs are included as one of the multiple causes. Current data available about this syndrome come from case reports. We present the case of a patient who suffered Kounis syndrome with cardiogenic shock and asystole after intravenous infusion of Metamizole, and in which no lesions were observed in coronariography.

Coincidental occurrence of acute coronary syndrome with symptoms associated with an allergic reaction is called Kounis syndrome (KS). Although KS has been recognized for several years and has been reported in many documents, KS induced by chronic autoimmune urticaria (CAU), to the authors' knowledge, has not been reported.

The patient was a 31-year-old woman who suffered from chronic urticaria for nearly 3 years. Her urticaria became more serious 1 week before this visit and was accompanied by repeated attacks of cardiac symptoms. Autologous serum skin test and serum anti-high affinity immunoglobulin E receptor antibody test were positive for CAU. Her coronary artery pathological changes were confirmed by electrocardiogram (ECG), cardiac troponin T (cTnT) value, and angiocardiography. The patient was diagnosed with KS. After being treated with cetirizine, glucocorticoids, and azathioprine, the patient did not relapse during the first year of follow-up.

When seeing a patient with intermittent exacerbations of chronic urticaria accompanied by repeated attacks of cardiac symptoms, emergency physicians should consider the diagnosis of KS. It is important to monitor changes in the ECG and cTnT value. Angiocardiography is necessary to eliminate myocardial infarction or unstable angina. Second-generation antihistamines and glucocorticoids are effective in the treatment of CAU and also alleviate coronary spasm. Another important consideration for the emergency physician is the fact that some first-generation antihistamines have the side effect of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, so it is better not to use these drugs to treat urticaria if KS is suspected.

El síndrome de Kounis (SK) fue descrito en 1991 por Kounis y Zavras como la aparición simultánea de eventos coronarios agudos y reacciones alérgicas anafilácticas o anafilactoides. Engloba conceptos como el de angina alérgica e infarto alérgico y se ha descrito en relación con picaduras de insectos, ingesta de fármacos y alimentos, exposiciones ambientales y condiciones médicas varias. Se desconoce su incidencia real ya que, la mayoría de lainformación proviene de casos clínicos o pequeñas series.

En el presente artículo se exponen los aspectos clínicos, diagnósticos, fisiopatología y tratamiento de este síndrome.

Kounis syndrome was described in 1991 by Kounis and Zavras as the coincidental occurrence of acute coronary syndromes with allergic reactions (anaphylactic or anaphylactoid).

Today, allergic angina and allergic myocardial infarction are referred to as Kounis syndrome, and the latter has been reported in association with a variety of drugs, insect stings, food, environmental exposures and medical conditions, among other factors.

The incidence is not known, as most of the available information comes from case reports or small case series. In this article, the clinical aspects, diagnosis, pathogenesis, related conditions and therapeutic management of the syndrome are discussed.