Kounis Syndrome

Kounis Syndrome Kounis syndrome is an acute coronary syndrome associated with a hypersensitivity / anaphylactic phenomenon. Three types of Kounis syndrome have been described: Type I: Anaphyactic reaction causing coronary spasm in normal or near normal coronary arteries and may progress to myocardial infarction Type II: Anaphylactic  reaction combined with a pre-existing atheromatous coronary lesion can result in acute myocardial infarction Type III: Hypersensitivity to an intracoronary stent resulting in  severe stent thrombosis Thus anaphylaxis can cause coronary spasm leading to acute myocardial infarction and life threatening cardiac arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation and cause death. Anaphylaxis is often associated with type I or II Kounis syndrome causing coronary artery spasm and thrombosis. The nickel contained in coronary stents and the polymer coating of drug eluting stents have antigenic properties [Kounis NG et al. Anaphylactic cardiac collapse, sudden death and the Kounis syndrome. J Postgrad Med. 2014;60:227-9]. Kounis NG and colleagues in a recent letter to the editor [Are bioabsorbable and biodegradable polymer scaffolds still safe or Kounis syndrome is still watching for? Chin Med J (Engl). 2014;127:4159] argue that Kounis hypersensitivity coronary syndrome caused by an antigenic complex of polymers, scaffolds and drugs – both the eluted and systemically administered could be involved in thrombosis of stents and scaffolds. They also suspect...
Source: Cardiophile MD - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs