Podcast 697: Kounis Syndrome

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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