Triggers, Types, and Treatments for Kounis Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Allergy and Immunology

Background:

• Kounis syndrome (KS), or allergic myocardial infarction, is a rare condition with three variants.
• It is often underdiagnosed due to limited awareness and diverse clinical manifestations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the triggers, types, management strategies, and patient outcomes associated with Kounis syndrome.
• To enhance the understanding and recognition of this condition.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of case reports identified via PubMed and Scopus.
• Data extraction included demographics, clinical features, triggers, treatments, and outcomes, with statistical analysis using Stata 12.

Main Results:

• Kounis syndrome has a global distribution, predominantly in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Type I KS was the most frequent variant, primarily affecting adult men.
• Significant variability was observed in patient treatments and outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Kounis syndrome presents diagnostic challenges, with underdiagnosis potentially contributing to inconsistent assessment.
• Enhanced diagnostic strategies, particularly those emphasizing patient history, are crucial for accurate diagnosis and preventing recurrence.