Kounis syndrome – an unusual etiology of acute myocardial infarction

Kounis syndrome is defined as an association between an acute coronary syndrome and acute systemic allergy involving vasoactive mediators released during the activation of the mast cells. A 79 year old woman arrives at the emergency department with syncope; she was stung by a wasp an hour before symptoms’ onset. Clinical examination was normal, excepet her left upper limb which had important edema. The ECG revealed ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads and negative T waves in the anterior leads. Emergency coronary angiography was performed, which revealed a 40% stenotic plaque on the mid LAD. A conservative approach was decided. The patient received standard anti-ischemic treatment and she was safely discharged after 6 days. We considered this case a Kounis syndrome induced by a wasp sting associated with a silent inferior myocardial infarction.