scholarly journals Kounis syndrome uncovers severe coronary disease: an unusual case of acute coronary syndrome secondary to allergic coronary vasospasm

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. e232472
Author(s):  
Luca Conti ◽  
Kelly Gatt ◽  
Christopher Zammit ◽  
Karen Cassar

Acute coronary syndrome occurring during the course of a type I hypersensitivity reaction constitutes Kounis syndrome. We report a case of a 64-year-old man who presented with a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and peripheral blood eosinophilia. He had rhinitis and constitutional symptoms for several days prior to presentation. Blood investigations revealed moderate eosinophilia and elevated IgE levels. A cardiac MRI showed generalised oedema with a subtle wall motion abnormality in basal inferior/inferolateral wall, and subendocardial high signal on late gadolinium enhancement suggesting a localised myocardial infarction. A coronary angiogram then revealed triple vessel disease. A diagnosis of Kounis syndrome was made. Within days of starting appropriate treatment, the patient’s eosinophil count returned to normal with improvement of clinical picture.

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 1108
Author(s):  
Admira Bilalic ◽  
Tina Ticinovic Kurir ◽  
Marko Kumric ◽  
Josip A. Borovac ◽  
Andrija Matetic ◽  
...  

Vascular calcification contributes to the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease while matrix Gla protein (MGP) was recently identified as a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification. MGP fractions, such as dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP), lack post-translational modifications and are less efficient in vascular calcification inhibition. We sought to compare dp-ucMGP levels between patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stratified by ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) status. Physical examination and clinical data, along with plasma dp-ucMGP levels, were obtained from 90 consecutive ACS patients. We observed that levels of dp-ucMGP were significantly higher in patients with NSTEMI compared to STEMI patients (1063.4 ± 518.6 vs. 742.7 ± 166.6 pmol/L, p < 0.001). NSTEMI status and positive family history of cardiovascular diseases were only independent predictors of the highest tertile of dp-ucMGP levels. Among those with NSTEMI, patients at a high risk of in-hospital mortality (adjudicated by GRACE score) had significantly higher levels of dp-ucMGP compared to non-high-risk patients (1417.8 ± 956.8 vs. 984.6 ± 335.0 pmol/L, p = 0.030). Altogether, our findings suggest that higher dp-ucMGP levels likely reflect higher calcification burden in ACS patients and might aid in the identification of NSTEMI patients at increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Furthermore, observed dp-ucMGP levels might reflect differences in atherosclerotic plaque pathobiology between patients with STEMI and NSTEMI.


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-141
Author(s):  
Olga Wajtryt ◽  
Tadeusz M Zielonka ◽  
Aleksandra Kaszyńska ◽  
Andrzej Falkowski ◽  
Katarzyna Życińska

Kounis syndrome or allergic myocardial infarction is an acute coronary syndrome in the course of an allergic reaction. In allergic patients in response to a specific condition - nourishment, inhalation, environmental substances, drug or insect bite there is an allergic reaction involving many different cells and mediators that can cause coronary artery spasm or initiate the process of rupture and activation of atherosclerotic plaque resulting in acute coronary syndrome. The paper describes a case of a young man with allergy to pollen and confirmed sensitization to nuts, who developed a full-blown anaphylactic shock after eating the nut mix and experienced a rapidly passing acute coronary syndrome with troponin up to 4.7 μg/L. An increased concentration of tryptase (15 μg/L), total IgE (> 3,000 IU/mL) and specific anti-nut IgE (55.1 kUA/L) were found. Based on the course of the disease and the results of allergic and cardiac tests, allergic type 1 myocardial infarction, i.e. caused by coronary artery spasm, was diagnosed. During the hospitalization, the patient’s condition improved quickly and after a few days he left the hospital without the signs of permanent damage to the heart muscle.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (41) ◽  
pp. 3553-3558
Author(s):  
Uday Subhash Bande ◽  
Kalinga Bommanakatte Eranaik ◽  
Manjunath Shivalingappa Hiremani ◽  
Basawantrao Kailash Patil ◽  
Sushma Shankaragouda Biradar

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. High Ca levels and low Mg levels are associated with increased cardiovascular risk in the general population.1 The balance between Ca and Mg seems to play an important role in homeostasis since Mg is considered as physiologic antagonist of Ca.2 Hence Ca/Mg ratio was considered to study its association with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS This is a case control study conducted in Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli over a period of 2 years, February 2019 to December 2020. 200 cases and 150 controls were included in the study. The biochemical measurements including complete blood count (CBC), cardiac biomarkers, liver function tests, renal function tests (RFT), serum electrolytes and lipid profile were measured using standard laboratory methods. Student ‘t’ test was used to compare the data. Optimum cut-offs for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction was calculated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. The association among markers was established by calculating Pearson’s correlation. RESULTS Serum Ca/Mg ratio was significantly higher (p value < 0.001) in ACS when compared to control groups. It was also found that Ca/Mg ratio was significantly lower (p value < 0.001) in non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) when compared to STEMI group. Serum Mg was significantly lower (p value < 0.001) in ACS group when compared to control group. Significant correlation (p value < 0.05) was found between serum Ca/Mg ratio and cardiac markers (CKMB, Troponin-I). ROC analysis of Ca/Mg (4.19) ratios showed optimum cut-offs in diagnosis of AMI. CONCLUSIONS Serum Ca/Mg could be useful adjuvant marker in diagnosis of AMI. The ratio is higher in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction when compared to non-STsegment myocardial infarction, which could be due to greater decrease in Mg levels when compared Ca in ACS. KEYWORDS ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), Non ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), Creatine Kinase-MB (CK-MB).


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 131-134
Author(s):  
Gilson Feitosa ◽  
Leandro Cavalcanti ◽  
Amanda Fraga ◽  
Milana Prado ◽  
Gilson Feitosa Filho ◽  
...  

The coronary care unit by Santa Izabel Hospital (Salvador, Bahia, Brazil) made a comparison of admitted patients with coronary disease cases admitted between two equivalent periods ranging from April through July in 2019 and 2020. There was a striking reduction in 2020 of cases of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (39%); non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (19%); and unstable angina pectoris (21%). This occurred in parallel with what happened in many parts of the world and hampered offering the best treatment strategy to these patients with an acute coronary syndrome such as invasive stratification and myocardial revascularization.  


Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica K Zègre-Hemsey ◽  
Larisa A Burke ◽  
Holli A DeVon

Background: Early identification and diagnosis are critical in the management of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) since time-dependent therapies reduce patient mortality and morbidity. Objective: The aims of this study were to describe differences in presenting symptoms by individual ACS diagnoses and determine the prognostic value of both signs (electrocardiographic evidence of ischemia) and symptoms for an ACS diagnosis. Method: Patients > 21 years old, with any ECG ischemic changes (ST-elevation, ST-depression, T-wave inversion), elevated serum troponin, and ACS symptoms presenting to one of five emergency departments (ED) were eligible for the study. Patients completed the ACS Symptom Checklist, a validated 13-item instrument that measures cardiac symptoms (typical and atypical). Pearson Chi-square tests were used for bivariate analyses and logistic regression was used for multivariate modeling. Results: A total of 1,031 patients (mean age 60 + 14, 62% male, 70% White) were enrolled; 450 (43.7%) were diagnosed with ACS. One hundred eleven (11%) had ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), 236 (23%) had non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), 103 (10%) had unstable angina (UA), and 581 (56%) were ruled-out for ACS. Patients with STEMI were more likely to report chest pain, diaphoresis, and higher symptom distress (p<0.05) at presentation than those without. Patients with NSTEMI were more likely to report arm pain and patients with UA were more likely to report lightheadedness (p<0.05). The presence of any chest symptoms (OR 2.24; 95% CI 1.27-3.97), higher symptom distress (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.0-1.15), and a lower number of symptoms (OR 0.92; 95% CI 0.86-0.98) were independent predictors of an ACS diagnosis (p<0.05). The strongest predictor of an ACS diagnosis was the presence of ECG ischemic changes (OR 4.51, 95% CI 3.20-6.36) adjusting for symptoms, age, gender, heart rate, arrhythmia, and troponin levels (p<0.001). Conclusion: ECG signs of ischemia combined with specific symptom characteristics may enhance timely triage and detection of ACS in the ED. Predictive models that incorporate presenting signs and symptoms should be explored for this vulnerable population.


2009 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. CMC.S3284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Wright ◽  
Claire Kenny-Scherber ◽  
Alison Montgomery ◽  
Omid Salehian

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in pregnancy has traditionally been considered to be a rare event, but the combination of normal physiological changes of pregnancy and more prevalent cardiovascular risk factors are increasing its incidence in this population. The present report describes a 39 year-old woman that is seven weeks pregnant presenting with a non ST elevation myocardial infarction. The incidence, risk factors, pathophysiology and management of ACS in pregnancy are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
O M Peiro Ibanez ◽  
J Ordonez ◽  
A Garcia ◽  
G Bonet ◽  
V Quintern ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Biomarkers plays a critical role in diagnostic, prognostication, and decision-making in cardiovascular medicine. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) has been reported as a potential biomarker in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, there is limited data on the long-term prognostic value after an ACS. Purpose To study the long-term prognostic value of GDF-15 in ACS. Methods We included patients with ACS who underwent coronary angiography. During angiography an arterial blood sample was collected. Plasma GDF-15 were measured and clinical data and long-term events were obtained. As previously reported, risk categories were defined as low risk (<1200ng/L), intermediate (1200–1800ng/L) and high risk (>1800ng/L). Incremental prognostic value of GDF-15 for all-cause death was assessed on top of a clinical model (GRACE score, LVEF<40% and age). Results A total of 358 patients were included; 157 as a low risk, 85 as an intermediate and 116 as a high risk. The median (IQR) age was 65 (56–74) years and 27.4% were female. Of all patients, 61.5% were admitted with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, 24.0% with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and 14.5% with unstable angina. Higher values of GDF-15 were consistently associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. During 6 years of follow-up 54 patients died. Of those patients, 7 (4.5%) had values of GDF-15 below 1200ng/L, 6 (7.1%) between 1200–1800ng/L and 41 (35.3%) above 1800ng/L. After adjustment for a multivariate Cox regression model, GDF-15 >1800ng/L were independently associated with all-cause death (HR 4.5; 95% CI 1.8–11.6; p=0.002) and the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) which were identified as all-cause death, nonfatal MI and heart failure (HR 2.5; 95% CI 1.4–4.4; p=0.001). For long-term all-cause death a significant increase of the c-statistic was seen after addition of GDF-15 to the clinical model 0.871 (95% CI 0.817–0.924; p=0.019) as well as net reclassification improvement (0.769; 95% CI 0.487–1.051; p<0.001) and integrated discrimination improvement (0.117; 95% CI 0.062–0.172; p<0.001). Of 18 events of heart failure, 17 occurred in patients with GDF>1800ng/L. A multivariate competing risk model showed a significant association between GDF-15>1800ng/L and incidence of heart failure (adjusted HR 30.8; 95% CI 4.1–231.5; p=0.001) but non-significant association were found for myocardial infarction. KM figures and all-cause death ROC curve Conclusions In the setting of ACS GDF-15 can predict long-term all-cause death, MACE and heart failure and provides incremental prognostic value beyond traditional risks factors in the long-term all-cause death.


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