# A Rare Cause of Life-Threatening Chest Pain: Kounis Syndrome

**Authors:** Liangliang Jia, Yabin Liu, Xi Chen, Yufei Wang

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/jcdd13020094 · 2026-02-14

## TL;DR

Kounis syndrome is a rare but dangerous condition where allergic reactions cause chest pain, and early diagnosis is crucial to prevent life-threatening outcomes.

## Contribution

The paper presents a case of type I Kounis syndrome and emphasizes the importance of early recognition and treatment.

## Key findings

- A 50-year-old female was diagnosed with type I Kounis syndrome after presenting with chest pain and allergic symptoms.
- Treatment with diltiazem and prednisolone resolved the patient's symptoms completely.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are critical to prevent fatal outcomes in Kounis syndrome.

## Abstract

Kounis syndrome, defined as an acute coronary syndrome triggered by allergic or hypersensitivity reactions, is a rare yet potentially life-threatening condition. This report details the case of a 50-year-old female patient presenting with recurrent chest pain, hypereosinophilia, and allergic comorbidities, who was ultimately diagnosed with type I Kounis syndrome. Modifications to her treatment regimen, including the administration of diltiazem and prednisolone, led to a complete resolution of her symptoms. This case highlights the critical importance of early diagnosis and timely intervention in managing Kounis syndrome. Early recognition is essential to prevent potentially fatal outcomes, thereby emphasizing the need for increased awareness among healthcare professionals.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** diltiazem (PubChem CID 39186), prednisolone (PubChem CID 5755)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** NPPB (natriuretic peptide B) [NCBI Gene 4879] {aka BNP, Iso-ANP}, IGHE (immunoglobulin heavy constant epsilon) [NCBI Gene 3497] {aka IgE}
- **Diseases:** inflammation (MESH:D007249), injury to (MESH:D014947), syncope (MESH:D013575), ACS (MESH:D054058), allergic symptoms (MESH:D063926), neoplastic conditions (MESH:D009369), plaque rupture (MESH:D012421), abdominal pain (MESH:D015746), angina (MESH:D000787), coronary vasospasm (MESH:D003329), HE (MESH:D004802), asthma (MESH:D001249), urticaria (MESH:D014581), Chest Pain (MESH:D002637), myocarditis (MESH:D009205), diarrhea (MESH:D003967), atherosclerotic stenosis (MESH:D003251), coronary artery dissection (MESH:C565153), anaphylaxis (MESH:D000707), spasm (MESH:D013035), stent thrombosis (MESH:D013927), restenosis (MESH:D023903), microvascular dysfunction (MESH:D017566), connective tissue disorders (MESH:D003240), hypertension (MESH:D006973), Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (MESH:D054549), cardiovascular consequences (MESH:D002318), infective (MESH:D007239), myocardial infarction (MESH:D009203), myocardial ischemia (MESH:D017202), allergic rhinitis (MESH:D065631), eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (MESH:D005767), Kounis Syndrome (MESH:D000074962), dizziness (MESH:D004244), abdominal symptoms (MESH:D000007), Sinus tachycardia (MESH:D013616), depression (MESH:D003866), bile reflux gastritis (MESH:D001655), cardiac complications (MESH:D006331), allergic reaction (MESH:D004342), parasitic infections (MESH:D010272), coronary artery disease (MESH:D003324), bridging (MESH:D054084)
- **Chemicals:** diltiazem (MESH:D004110), aspirin (MESH:D001241), levofloxacin (MESH:D064704), latamoxef (MESH:D009070), clopidogrel (MESH:D000077144), Prednisolone (MESH:D011239), lansoprazole (MESH:D064747), atorvastatin (MESH:D000069059), nitroglycerin (MESH:D005996), steroid (MESH:D013256), cilostazol (MESH:D000077407), pantoprazole (MESH:D000077402), alcohol (MESH:D000438), rabeprazole (MESH:D064750), calcium (MESH:D002118)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12942188/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12942188