Contact allergy to a subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillator - A rare problem with a golden solution.

Contact allergy to implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD) is an uncommon and underdiagnosed complication. We report a case of a 20-years-old man patient that was resuscitated from sudden cardiac death. Workup imaging study was unremarkable, but genetic testing identified a mutation in the KCNH2 gene of uncertain significance. The patient underwent a subcutaneous implantable cardiac defibrillator (S-ICD) implantation, with no complications. The patient suffered two hospital re-admissions due to a device-related inflammatory reaction, leading to two device re-implantations. At the first time, it was considered a bacterial infection and the S-ICD was replaced by an endovascular device. At the second time, a tissue-device interaction, with hypersensitivity reaction and device rejection was suspected. The skin patch-tests were inconclusive, but it was decided to implant a custom-made gold-coated endovascular ICD. Indeed, the tendency is an initial misdiagnosis as an infection and a high clinical suspicion is essential to an early diagnosis.

Kounis syndrome. Apropos of a clinical case. / Síndrome de Kounis. A propósito de um caso clínico.

Kounis syndrome, while an acute coronary syndrome, occurs in the context of a hypersensitivity reaction, allergies, or anaphylaxis and is subdivided into three types: coronary spasm in normal arteries, instability of plaques in atherosclerotic coronary arteries, and thrombosis of coronary stents. Herein, the case of a 73-year-old patient who, after administration of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, went into cardiorespiratory arrest with evidence of ST-T segment elevation on electrocardiogram is reported. Coronarography revealed no obstructive lesions, and spontaneous resolution of electrocardiographic abnormalities was observed. A review of anamnesis with the family revealed a previous allergy to penicillin. The tryptase dosage was strongly positive. Kounis syndrome type 2 was diagnosed, and the clinical outcome was good.

Síndrome de Kounis. A propósito de um caso clínico / Kounis syndrome. Apropos of a clinical case

RESUMO A síndrome de Kounis, enquanto síndrome coronária aguda, ocorre em um contexto de reação de hipersensibilidade, alergia ou anafilaxia, e subdivide-se em três tipos: o espasmo coronário em artérias normais, a instabilidade de placas em artérias coronárias ateroscleróticas e a trombose de stent coronário. Apresenta-se o caso de uma doente de 73 anos que, após administração de amoxicilina/ácido clavulânico, entra em parada cardiorrespiratória, com evidência de supradesnivelamento do segmento ST-T em eletrocardiograma. Realiza coronariografia com ausência de lesões obstrutivas, verificando-se resolução espontânea das alterações eletrocardiográficas. Revisão da anamnese com a família documenta alergia prévia à penicilina. O doseamento de triptase foi fortemente positivo. Foi admitida provável síndrome de Kounis tipo 2, com boa evolução clínica posterior.

ABSTRACT Kounis syndrome, while an acute coronary syndrome, occurs in the context of a hypersensitivity reaction, allergies, or anaphylaxis and is subdivided into three types: coronary spasm in normal arteries, instability of plaques in atherosclerotic coronary arteries, and thrombosis of coronary stents. Herein, the case of a 73-year-old patient who, after administration of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, went into cardiorespiratory arrest with evidence of ST-T segment elevation on electrocardiogram is reported. Coronarography revealed no obstructive lesions, and spontaneous resolution of electrocardiographic abnormalities was observed. A review of anamnesis with the family revealed a previous allergy to penicillin. The tryptase dosage was strongly positive. Kounis syndrome type 2 was diagnosed, and the clinical outcome was good.