Coronary vasospasm secondary to allergic reaction following food ingestion: a case of type I variant Kounis syndrome

Heart Vessels. 2010 May;25(3):263-6. doi: 10.1007/s00380-009-1187-5. Epub 2010 May 29.

Abstract

Coronary vasospasm can be induced by allergic reactions with some chemical mediators, and the angina and myocardial infarction secondary to allergy-induced coronary vasospasm are referred to as "Kounis syndrome." Only two cases of Kounis syndrome following food ingestion have been reported. However, they had pre-existing atheromatous coronary artery disease, and no provocation test to induce coronary vasospasm was done. We describe here another probable case of allergic vasospasm after food intake. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented report of a patient with food-induced allergic vasospasm subsequent to the provocation test with ergometrine maleate.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Vasospasm / diagnosis
  • Coronary Vasospasm / etiology*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Ergonovine
  • Female
  • Food Hypersensitivity / diagnosis
  • Food Hypersensitivity / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Shellfish / adverse effects*
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Ergonovine