Anaphylaxis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anaphylaxis, including details on food allergies, diagnosis, treatment, causes.

Acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction complicating amoxycillin-induced anaphylaxis: a case report.

Del Furia F, Querceto L, Testi S, Santoro GM

A 70-year-old man experienced an amoxycillin-induced anaphylactic reaction complicated by acute inferior myocardial infarction with transient ST-segment elevation. There was a spontaneous resolution of ST-segment elevation and the patient was treated for anaphylaxis. Coronary angiography showed severe obstructive coronary atherosclerosis, but not involving the infarct-related artery. Percutaneous coronary intervention of the affected artery was then performed and the patient was discharged three days later. Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction has been described as one of the severe, still rare cardiovascular complications of anaphylaxis. In the present case, according to the previous reports, the main pathogenetic mechanism involved appears to have been coronary vasospasm probably caused by the release of potent vasoactive mast cell derived mediators in the setting of anaphylaxis.

Published 19 March 2007 in Int J Cardiol, 117(1): e37-9.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Anaphylaxis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.