Kounis syndrome resulting from anaphylaxis to diclofenac

• Published in: Indian journal of anaesthesia Vol. 57; no. 3; pp. 282 - 284
• Main Authors: Tiwari, Akhilesh, Tomar, Gaurav, Ganguly, S, Kapoor, Mukul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications 01.05.2013; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Acute coronary syndrome; Allergies; Anaphylaxis; Angina pectoris; Asthma; Blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease; Case Report; Complications and side effects; Coronary vessels; Development and progression; Diclofenac; diclofenac sodium; Enzymes; Fractures; Heart attacks; Kinases; Kounis syndrome; Metabolites; myocardial ischaemia/infarction; Pain; Physiological aspects; Thrombosis; Anaphylaxis; diclofenac sodium; Kounis syndrome; myocardial ischaemia/infarction
• ISSN: 0019-5049; 0976-2817
• DOI: 10.4103/0019-5049.115614

"Kounis syndrome" refers to acute coronary syndromes of varying degree (myocardial ischaemia to infarction) induced by mast cell activation as a result of allergic and anaphylactic reactions. ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction is a rare complication that can occur even in patients with normal coronary arteries due to anaphylactic reactions. We present a case that developed acute myocardial infarction following a diclofenac sodium-induced anaphylaxis. The patient did not have any previous coronary artery disease, but there was a temporal relationship with development of the anaphylactic reaction due to diclofenac sodium and the cardiac event. The patient was managed conservatively and the recovery was uneventful.