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  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="nlm-ta">Arq Bras Cardiol</journal-id>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">abc</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="publisher">Arq. Bras. Cardiol.</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn pub-type="ppub">0066-782X</issn>
      <issn pub-type="epub">1678-4170</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia - SBC</publisher-name>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id specific-use="scielo-v3" pub-id-type="publisher-id">fDnDhzGNXtKcL73fZFmTqjD</article-id>
      <article-id specific-use="scielo-v2" pub-id-type="publisher-id">S0066-782X2026000302201</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="other">02201</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.36660/abc.20250698</article-id>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Relato de Caso</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>S&#237;ndrome de Kounis Tipo II ap&#243;s Exposi&#231;&#227;o ao Diclofenaco: Desvendando a Liga&#231;&#227;o entre Alergia Medicamentosa e S&#237;ndrome Coronariana Aguda</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Mansur</surname>
            <given-names>Rafaella Avakian</given-names>
          </name>
          <role>Concep&#231;&#227;o e desenho da pesquisa e Obten&#231;&#227;o de dados</role>
          <role>Reda&#231;&#227;o do manuscrito</role>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1">
            <sup>1</sup>
          </xref>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Avakian</surname>
            <given-names>Solange Desir&#233;e</given-names>
          </name>
          <role>Concep&#231;&#227;o e desenho da pesquisa e Obten&#231;&#227;o de dados</role>
          <role>Reda&#231;&#227;o do manuscrito</role>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2">
            <sup>2</sup>
          </xref>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0003-3051-1090</contrib-id>
          <name>
            <surname>Mansur</surname>
            <given-names>Antonio de Padua</given-names>
          </name>
          <role>Concep&#231;&#227;o e desenho da pesquisa e Obten&#231;&#227;o de dados</role>
          <role>Revis&#227;o cr&#237;tica do manuscrito quanto ao conte&#250;do</role>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1">
            <sup>1</sup>
          </xref>
        </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <aff id="aff1">
        <label>1</label>
        <institution content-type="orgname">Universidade de S&#227;o Paulo</institution>
        <addr-line>
          <named-content content-type="city">S&#227;o Paulo</named-content>
          <named-content content-type="state">SP</named-content>
        </addr-line>
        <country country="BR">Brasil</country>
        <institution content-type="original">Universidade de S&#227;o Paulo S&#227;o Paulo, SP &#8211; Brasil</institution>
      </aff>
      <aff id="aff2">
        <label>2</label>
        <institution content-type="orgdiv2">Hospital das Cl&#237;nicas</institution>
        <institution content-type="orgdiv1">Faculdade de Medicina</institution>
        <institution content-type="orgname">Universidade de S&#227;o Paulo</institution>
        <addr-line>
          <named-content content-type="city">S&#227;o Paulo</named-content>
          <named-content content-type="state">SP</named-content>
        </addr-line>
        <country country="BR">Brasil</country>
        <institution content-type="original">Instituto do Cora&#231;&#227;o do Hospital das Cl&#237;nicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de S&#227;o Paulo, S&#227;o Paulo, SP &#8211; Brasil</institution>
      </aff>
      <author-notes>
        <corresp id="c01"><label>Correspond&#234;ncia:</label> Antonio de Padua Mansur Instituto do Cora&#231;&#227;o do Hospital das Cl&#237;nicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de S&#227;o Paulo - Av. Dr. En&#233;as C. Aguiar, 44. CEP 05403-000, S&#227;o Paulo, SP &#8211; Brasil E-mail: <email>apmansur@yahoo.com</email> </corresp>
        <fn fn-type="coi-statement">
          <label>Potencial conflito de interesse:</label>
          <p>N&#227;o h&#225; conflito com o presente artigo</p>
        </fn>
        <fn fn-type="edited-by">
          <label>Editor respons&#225;vel pela revis&#227;o:</label>
          <p>Gl&#225;ucia Maria Moraes de Oliveira</p>
        </fn>
      </author-notes>
      <pub-date date-type="pub" publication-format="electronic">
        <day>11</day>
        <month>05</month>
        <year>2026</year>
      </pub-date>
      <pub-date date-type="collection" publication-format="electronic">
        <month>03</month>
        <year>2026</year>
      </pub-date>
      <volume>123</volume>
      <issue>3</issue>
      <elocation-id>e20250698</elocation-id>
      <history>
        <date date-type="received">
          <day>14</day>
          <month>10</month>
          <year>2025</year>
        </date>
        <date date-type="rev-recd">
          <day>28</day>
          <month>11</month>
          <year>2025</year>
        </date>
        <date date-type="accepted">
          <day>16</day>
          <month>12</month>
          <year>2025</year>
        </date>
      </history>
      <permissions>
        <license license-type="open-access" xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" xml:lang="pt">
          <license-p>Este &#233; um artigo de acesso aberto distribu&#237;do sob os termos da licen&#231;a de atribui&#231;&#227;o pelo Creative Commons</license-p>
        </license>
      </permissions>
      <kwd-group xml:lang="pt">
        <title>Palavras-chave</title>
        <kwd>S&#237;ndrome de Kounis</kwd>
        <kwd>Diclofenaco</kwd>
        <kwd>Hipersensibilidade a Drogas</kwd>
        <kwd>Infarto do Mioc&#225;rdio</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
      <funding-group>
        <funding-statement>Fontes de financiamento: O presente estudo n&#227;o teve fontes de financiamento externas.</funding-statement>
      </funding-group>
      <counts>
        <fig-count count="4"/>
        <table-count count="0"/>
        <equation-count count="0"/>
        <ref-count count="11"/>
      </counts>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
  <body>
    <sec sec-type="intro">
      <title>Introdu&#231;&#227;o</title>
      <p>A s&#237;ndrome de Kounis (SK), identificada pela primeira vez em 1991 como &#8220;angina al&#233;rgica&#8221;, representa uma importante intersec&#231;&#227;o entre cardiologia e alergologia. Envolve epis&#243;dios de s&#237;ndrome coronariana aguda (SCA), como vasoespasmo, infarto do mioc&#225;rdio ou trombose de stent, que ocorrem durante rea&#231;&#245;es al&#233;rgicas, anafil&#225;ticas ou de hipersensibilidade.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup> A SK demonstra o impacto direto da inflama&#231;&#227;o sist&#234;mica nos vasos coron&#225;rios, principalmente por meio da ativa&#231;&#227;o e degranula&#231;&#227;o de mast&#243;citos.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref></sup> Embora tenha sido descrita pela primeira vez h&#225; mais de 30 anos, a SK permanece altamente subdiagnosticada e frequentemente negligenciada, levando a atrasos no tratamento adequado.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> Sua fisiopatologia envolve a libera&#231;&#227;o de v&#225;rios mediadores inflamat&#243;rios, como histamina, leucotrienos, triptase, quimase e fator de ativa&#231;&#227;o de plaquetas. Essas subst&#226;ncias podem causar vasoespasmo coron&#225;rio, desencadear eros&#227;o ou ruptura de placas ateromatosas preexistentes e promover um ambiente protromb&#243;tico, resultando em SCA.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref></sup> Revis&#245;es sistem&#225;ticas da literatura existente, compostas principalmente por relatos e s&#233;ries de casos, v&#234;m esclarecendo as caracter&#237;sticas epidemiol&#243;gicas e cl&#237;nicas da SK. Uma revis&#227;o abrangente recente de Cahuapaza-Gutierrez et al., incluindo 214 pacientes, mostrou predomin&#226;ncia masculina (69,6%), idade m&#233;dia de 54,4 anos e hipertens&#227;o como comorbidade mais comum (33,6%).<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> Os gatilhos mais frequentes s&#227;o medicamentos (38,3%), especialmente antibi&#243;ticos e anti-inflamat&#243;rios n&#227;o esteroides, seguidos por picadas de insetos (26,2%).<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref></sup> A SK &#233; classificada em tr&#234;s tipos principais: tipo I (espasmo coron&#225;rio sem doen&#231;a preexistente), tipo II (infarto do mioc&#225;rdio na presen&#231;a de doen&#231;a arterial coronariana subjacente) e tipo III (trombose de stent).<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref></sup> Um &#8220;tipo IV&#8221; proposto envolve trombose de enxertos de revasculariza&#231;&#227;o do mioc&#225;rdio. Reconhecer essa classifica&#231;&#227;o &#233; crucial para os m&#233;dicos, pois o tratamento deve abordar tanto a isquemia card&#237;aca aguda quanto a rea&#231;&#227;o al&#233;rgica. O presente relato de caso de SK tipo II t&#237;pica desencadeada por diclofenaco s&#243;dico visa contribuir para o crescente corpo de evid&#234;ncias e ressaltar a import&#226;ncia de maior conscientiza&#231;&#227;o cl&#237;nica.</p>
      <sec>
        <title>Apresenta&#231;&#227;o do caso</title>
        <p>Uma mulher na faixa dos 50 anos compareceu ao pronto-socorro ap&#243;s uma rea&#231;&#227;o adversa aguda, aproximadamente 15 minutos ap&#243;s ingerir um &#250;nico comprimido de diclofenaco s&#243;dico para controle da dor. Seus sintomas iniciais inclu&#237;ram erup&#231;&#227;o cut&#226;nea generalizada, hipotens&#227;o profunda e s&#237;ncope.</p>
      </sec>
      <sec>
        <title>Apresenta&#231;&#227;o inicial e manejo agudo</title>
        <p>Ao chegar, a paciente apresentava sudorese e encontrava-se em mau estado geral. Seus sinais vitais indicavam hipotens&#227;o (press&#227;o arterial: 80/50 mmHg) e taquicardia (frequ&#234;ncia card&#237;aca: 110 bpm). O exame f&#237;sico revelou erup&#231;&#227;o urticariforme difusa. Foi realizado imediatamente um eletrocardiograma de 12 deriva&#231;&#245;es, demonstrando eleva&#231;&#227;o significativa do segmento ST nas deriva&#231;&#245;es inferiores (II, III e aVF) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f01">Figura 1</xref>). Foi estabelecido o diagn&#243;stico de infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST nas deriva&#231;&#245;es inferiores. A paciente foi transferida com urg&#234;ncia para o laborat&#243;rio de cateterismo card&#237;aco. A angiografia coron&#225;ria de emerg&#234;ncia mostrou fun&#231;&#227;o ventricular esquerda normal e identificou um trombo discreto no segmento m&#233;dio-distal da art&#233;ria coron&#225;ria direita (ACD), sem evid&#234;ncia de aterosclerose significativa, definida como les&#245;es coron&#225;rias com estenose luminal superior a 70% ou ruptura de placa naquele momento (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f02">Figura 2A</xref>). A tromb&#243;lise intracoron&#225;ria com alteplase foi administrada com sucesso. Uma angiografia de acompanhamento confirmou a repermeabiliza&#231;&#227;o completa da ACD, sem trombo residual ou les&#245;es que limitassem o fluxo (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f02">Figura 2B</xref>).</p>
        <p>
          <fig id="f01">
            <label>Figura 1</label>
            <caption>
              <title>&#8211; Eletrocardiogramas demonstrando eleva&#231;&#227;o do segmento ST nas deriva&#231;&#245;es inferiores (II, III e aVF) na admiss&#227;o e no 8&#186; dia de interna&#231;&#227;o.</title>
            </caption>
            <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-123-03-e20250698-50698-gf01.tif"/></fig>
        </p>
        <p>
          <fig id="f02">
            <label>Figura 2</label>
            <caption>
              <title>&#8211; Angiografia coron&#225;ria mostrando trombo na art&#233;ria coron&#225;ria direita (A) e sua resolu&#231;&#227;o ap&#243;s tromb&#243;lise intracoron&#225;ria (B).</title>
            </caption>
            <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-123-03-e20250698-50698-gf02.tif"/></fig>
        </p>
      </sec>
      <sec>
        <title>Hist&#243;rico m&#233;dico antecedente e evolu&#231;&#227;o hospitalar</title>
        <p>Seu hist&#243;rico m&#233;dico relevante inclu&#237;a hipertens&#227;o arterial sist&#234;mica e tabagismo de 20 cigarros por dia, que havia abandonado antes do evento. Ela n&#227;o tinha alergias medicamentosas conhecidas. Ap&#243;s o procedimento, foi estabilizada na unidade coronariana. Iniciou-se um regime de preven&#231;&#227;o secund&#225;ria com atenolol, sinvastatina e aspirina (AAS). Ap&#243;s uma semana de interna&#231;&#227;o sem intercorr&#234;ncias, recebeu alta assintom&#225;tica, com press&#227;o arterial bem controlada (120/80 mmHg) e frequ&#234;ncia card&#237;aca de 56 bpm. Seu &#237;ndice de massa corporal (IMC) era de 28,31 kg/m<sup>2</sup> e o exame f&#237;sico na alta foi normal.</p>
      </sec>
      <sec>
        <title>Acompanhamento em curto e longo prazo</title>
        <p>Ap&#243;s 2 meses, foram realizados exames laboratoriais abrangentes para identificar condi&#231;&#245;es protromb&#243;ticas subjacentes. A triagem para trombofilia foi negativa para fator V de Leiden, prote&#237;na C, prote&#237;na S, anticoagulante l&#250;pico e anticorpos antinucleares. Seu perfil lip&#237;dico mostrou triglicer&#237;deos de 118 mg/dL, colesterol total de 189 mg/dL, HDL de 72 mg/dL, LDL de 93 mg/dL e lipoprote&#237;na(a) de 13,9 mg/dL. Seu n&#237;vel de homociste&#237;na estava dentro da faixa normal, em 11,8 &#956;mol/L. Ap&#243;s 15 anos de acompanhamento, ela apresentou um epis&#243;dio t&#237;pico de angina. Um ecocardiograma evidenciou fra&#231;&#227;o de eje&#231;&#227;o do ventr&#237;culo esquerdo preservada em 61%, press&#227;o sist&#243;lica da art&#233;ria pulmonar de 32 mmHg e disfun&#231;&#227;o diast&#243;lica de grau I. O ultrassom Doppler de car&#243;tidas identificou altera&#231;&#245;es ateromatosas sem estenose significativa. A angiotomografia computadorizada coron&#225;ria (angioTC) mostrou aterosclerose avan&#231;ada com escore de c&#225;lcio de Agatston de 467 e calcifica&#231;&#245;es difusas nas art&#233;rias coron&#225;rias, juntamente com estenose moderada (50% a 70%) no ramo ventricular posterior da ACD. Dois anos depois, ela foi diagnosticada com doen&#231;a vascular perif&#233;rica causada por aterosclerose nos membros inferiores, incluindo oclus&#227;o do segmento m&#233;dio da art&#233;ria tibial posterior esquerda e desenvolvimento de circula&#231;&#227;o colateral. Seu IMC havia aumentado para 32,67 kg/m<sup>2</sup>.</p>
      </sec>
      <sec>
        <title>Quadro final</title>
        <p>Em sua avalia&#231;&#227;o mais recente, a paciente permanecia livre de sintomas cardiovasculares. Seu regime medicamentoso de longo prazo foi otimizado e atualmente inclui AAS 100 mg ao dia, rosuvastatina 20 mg ao dia e verapamil 160 mg ao dia para manejo cont&#237;nuo do risco cardiovascular.</p>
      </sec>
    </sec>
    <sec sec-type="discussion">
      <title>Discuss&#227;o</title>
      <p>O caso relatado envolve uma mulher na faixa dos 50 anos que desenvolveu um infarto agudo do mioc&#225;rdio com supradesnivelamento do segmento ST secund&#225;rio a uma rea&#231;&#227;o de hipersensibilidade induzida por diclofenaco, exemplificando a SK tipo II. A apresenta&#231;&#227;o da paciente est&#225; em conson&#226;ncia com a literatura: in&#237;cio r&#225;pido de sintomas al&#233;rgicos (erup&#231;&#227;o cut&#226;nea e hipotens&#227;o) seguido de isquemia card&#237;aca, com evid&#234;ncia angiogr&#225;fica de forma&#231;&#227;o de trombo em contexto de doen&#231;a arterial coronariana pr&#233;-existente, por&#233;m n&#227;o obstrutiva, posteriormente confirmada por tomografia coronariana.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref>-<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B6">6</xref></sup> O caso relatado oferece uma oportunidade para examinar aspectos fundamentais da SK. Em primeiro lugar, o gatilho &#8212; o diclofenaco &#8212; &#233; um AINE reconhecidamente implicado na SK. Uma revis&#227;o sistem&#225;tica de Pejcic et al., focada especificamente na SK relacionada ao diclofenaco, identificou 20 casos, sendo a eleva&#231;&#227;o do segmento ST o achado eletrocardiogr&#225;fico mais comum (85%) e a hipotens&#227;o observada em 75% dos pacientes.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B7">7</xref></sup> Embora a revis&#227;o tenha relatado uma predomin&#226;ncia masculina de 90%, nosso caso demonstra que a SK pode afetar ambos os sexos, e um alto grau de suspeita deve ser mantido independentemente do sexo. O mecanismo prov&#225;vel envolve duas vias principais. Como um AINE, o diclofenaco pode provocar rea&#231;&#245;es de hipersensibilidade por meio de mecanismos mediados por IgE ou, mais comumente, por meio da inibi&#231;&#227;o farmacol&#243;gica da COX-1, que direciona o metabolismo do &#225;cido araquid&#244;nico para a via da lipoxigenase, aumentando a produ&#231;&#227;o de leucotrienos cistein&#237;licos e outros mediadores inflamat&#243;rios.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B8">8</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B9">9</xref></sup> Esses mediadores, liberados pelos mast&#243;citos, causam vasoconstri&#231;&#227;o intensa (histamina e leucotrienos), aumentam a permeabilidade vascular, levando &#224; hipotens&#227;o, e ativam as plaquetas.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B10">10</xref></sup> Em vasos com disfun&#231;&#227;o endotelial preexistente ou aterosclerose subcl&#237;nica, essa resposta inflamat&#243;ria pode desencadear eros&#227;o da placa e forma&#231;&#227;o aguda de trombo, como observado em nossa paciente. A aus&#234;ncia de estenose significativa ap&#243;s a tromb&#243;lise refor&#231;a a ideia de que o processo &#233; din&#226;mico, impulsionado por vasoespasmo e trombose, e n&#227;o por uma les&#227;o obstrutiva fixa. Do ponto de vista do tratamento, o caso relatado destaca o sucesso da terapia de dupla via, abordando simultaneamente a resposta al&#233;rgica e o evento coronariano. O uso da tromb&#243;lise intracoron&#225;ria foi crucial para a resolu&#231;&#227;o do trombo. &#201; importante ressaltar o debate em curso sobre o uso de adrenalina na SK, visto que ela pode agravar o vasoespasmo coronariano por meio da estimula&#231;&#227;o dos receptores &#945;-adren&#233;rgicos.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref></sup> Isso enfatiza a necessidade de um manejo individualizado e do desenvolvimento de diretrizes cl&#237;nicas formais. Al&#233;m disso, o desfecho a longo prazo da paciente foi favor&#225;vel, em conson&#226;ncia com dados de revis&#245;es sistem&#225;ticas que indicam que a maioria dos pacientes com SK (86,92%) apresenta bom progn&#243;stico com tratamento imediato.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> O caso relatado ressalta que a SK n&#227;o &#233; t&#227;o rara quanto se pensa, mas &#233; frequentemente negligenciada. Maior conscientiza&#231;&#227;o da comunidade m&#233;dica e a considera&#231;&#227;o sistem&#225;tica da SK em qualquer paciente que apresente sintomas de SCA, juntamente com caracter&#237;sticas al&#233;rgicas, s&#227;o cruciais para melhorar o diagn&#243;stico e o manejo.</p>
      <sec>
        <title>Progn&#243;stico a longo prazo e identifica&#231;&#227;o da doen&#231;a subjacente</title>
        <p>O acompanhamento a longo prazo da nossa paciente ao longo de 15 anos proporciona uma perspectiva rara e valiosa sobre os efeitos duradouros da SK. Inicialmente tratada como um evento agudo e revers&#237;vel, a evolu&#231;&#227;o cl&#237;nica subsequente da paciente revelou uma carga ateroscler&#243;tica extensa e progressiva. Isso foi claramente documentado pela angioTC, que mostrou um escore de c&#225;lcio de Agatston de 467, e estenose moderada, confirmando doen&#231;a arterial coronariana subjacente significativa, n&#227;o aparente durante o epis&#243;dio tromb&#243;tico inicial. Essa progress&#227;o destaca um aspecto fundamental da SK tipo II: ela frequentemente revela um substrato coronariano vulner&#225;vel e silencioso, propenso a futuros eventos cardiovasculares.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref></sup> A relev&#226;ncia desse achado a longo prazo reside na compreens&#227;o de que os pacientes que sobrevivem a um epis&#243;dio de SK n&#227;o s&#227;o &#8220;curados&#8221; ap&#243;s a resolu&#231;&#227;o das fases al&#233;rgica e tromb&#243;tica agudas. Em vez disso, eles apresentam risco substancial de progress&#227;o ateroscler&#243;tica t&#237;pica. O ambiente inflamat&#243;rio sist&#234;mico durante o evento anafil&#225;tico, caracterizado por mediadores derivados de mast&#243;citos, como triptase e quimase, pode n&#227;o apenas desencadear o evento coronariano agudo, mas tamb&#233;m contribuir para a desestabiliza&#231;&#227;o e o crescimento a longo prazo das placas ateroscler&#243;ticas.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B9">9</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B10">10</xref></sup> Al&#233;m disso, o desenvolvimento de doen&#231;a arterial perif&#233;rica sintom&#225;tica em nossa paciente destaca que a vulnerabilidade &#233; sist&#234;mica, afetando todo o sistema vascular. Portanto, o manejo da SK deve ir al&#233;m da fase aguda. Como ilustrado neste caso, a preven&#231;&#227;o secund&#225;ria agressiva e ao longo da vida &#233; essencial. Isso inclui o controle rigoroso dos fatores de risco tradicionais e a ades&#227;o consistente &#224; terapia antiplaquet&#225;ria e &#224;s estatinas de alta intensidade, conforme recomendado pelas diretrizes padr&#227;o para doen&#231;a arterial coronariana.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B11">11</xref></sup> A manuten&#231;&#227;o do estado assintom&#225;tico a longo prazo de nossa paciente provavelmente resulta dessa abordagem farmacol&#243;gica cont&#237;nua. A SK deve, portanto, ser vista n&#227;o apenas como uma crise al&#233;rgica e card&#237;aca aguda, mas como um sinal de alerta significativo de doen&#231;a cardiovascular subjacente e potencialmente progressiva, exigindo monitoramento cont&#237;nuo e manejo dos fatores de risco ao longo da vida.</p>
        <p>A extensa doen&#231;a ateroscler&#243;tica da paciente, 15 anos ap&#243;s o evento inicial, n&#227;o pode ser atribu&#237;da exclusivamente ao epis&#243;dio anterior de SK. Ela apresentava diversos fatores de risco cardiovascular: tabagismo pr&#233;vio (com exposi&#231;&#227;o incerta durante o acompanhamento), controle inadequado do colesterol LDL no primeiro m&#234;s de acompanhamento e poss&#237;vel desenvolvimento de hipertens&#227;o, diabetes, sobrepeso e outros riscos comportamentais, socioecon&#244;micos ou ambientais. Al&#233;m disso, era prov&#225;vel que estivesse na p&#243;s-menopausa, o que aumentava ainda mais seu risco cardiovascular. Portanto, atribuir sua carga ateroscler&#243;tica posterior inteiramente ao epis&#243;dio de SK seria inapropriado. Ademais, a sugest&#227;o de uma liga&#231;&#227;o entre a atividade dos mast&#243;citos e a aterosclerose envolve exposi&#231;&#227;o cr&#244;nica, o que &#233; improv&#225;vel na aus&#234;ncia de sintomas al&#233;rgicos recorrentes durante o acompanhamento. Embora a SK esteja sendo relatada com mais frequ&#234;ncia, ainda faltam estudos prospectivos e diretrizes espec&#237;ficas para estabelec&#234;-la como um indicador definitivo de vulnerabilidade ateroscler&#243;tica. Apesar de o epis&#243;dio subsequente ao uso de diclofenaco poder sugerir tal conex&#227;o, especialmente em pacientes com doen&#231;a arterial coronariana preexistente, essa associa&#231;&#227;o n&#227;o alcan&#231;ou consenso cl&#237;nico e n&#227;o &#233; sustentada por evid&#234;ncias robustas.</p>
      </sec>
    </sec>
    <sec sec-type="conclusions">
      <title>Conclus&#227;o</title>
      <p>Os m&#233;dicos devem considerar a SK em pacientes com sintomas coronarianos agudos ap&#243;s exposi&#231;&#227;o a al&#233;rgenos conhecidos, incluindo medicamentos comuns como o diclofenaco. A identifica&#231;&#227;o precoce e o tratamento combinado dos componentes al&#233;rgico e card&#237;aco s&#227;o cruciais para prevenir complica&#231;&#245;es e melhorar os desfechos.</p>
    </sec>
  </body>
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    <fn-group>
      <fn fn-type="other">
        <label>Vincula&#231;&#227;o acad&#234;mica:</label>
        <p> N&#227;o h&#225; vincula&#231;&#227;o deste estudo a programas de p&#243;s-gradua&#231;&#227;o.</p>
      </fn>
      <fn fn-type="other">
        <label>Aprova&#231;&#227;o &#233;tica e consentimento informado:</label>
        <p> Este artigo n&#227;o cont&#233;m estudos com humanos ou animais realizados por nenhum dos autores.</p>
      </fn>
      <fn fn-type="other">
        <label>Uso de Intelig&#234;ncia Artificial:</label>
        <p> Os autores n&#227;o utilizaram ferramentas de intelig&#234;ncia artificial no desenvolvimento deste trabalho.</p>
      </fn>
      <fn fn-type="data-availability" specific-use="data-in-article">
        <label>Disponibilidade de Dados:</label>
        <p> Os conte&#250;dos subjacentes ao texto da pesquisa est&#227;o contidos no manuscrito.</p>
      </fn>
      <fn fn-type="financial-disclosure">
        <label>Fontes de financiamento:</label>
        <p> O presente estudo n&#227;o teve fontes de financiamento externas.</p>
      </fn>
    </fn-group>
  </back>
  <sub-article article-type="translation" id="TRen" xml:lang="en">
    <front-stub>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.36660/abc.20250698i</article-id>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Case Report</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>Kounis Syndrome Type II after Diclofenac Exposure: Unmasking a Link Between Drug Allergy and Acute Coronary Syndrome</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Mansur</surname>
            <given-names>Rafaella Avakian</given-names>
          </name>
          <role>Conception and design of the research and Acquisition of data</role>
          <role>Writing of the manuscript</role>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1001">
            <sup>1</sup>
          </xref>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Avakian</surname>
            <given-names>Solange Desir&#233;e</given-names>
          </name>
          <role>Conception and design of the research and Acquisition of data</role>
          <role>Writing of the manuscript</role>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2001">
            <sup>2</sup>
          </xref>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0003-3051-1090</contrib-id>
          <name>
            <surname>Mansur</surname>
            <given-names>Antonio de Padua</given-names>
          </name>
          <role>Conception and design of the research and Acquisition of data</role>
          <role>Critical revision of the manuscript for content</role>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1001">
            <sup>1</sup>
          </xref>
        </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <aff id="aff1001">
        <label>1</label>
        <country country="BR">Brazil</country>
        <institution content-type="original">Universidade de S&#227;o Paulo S&#227;o Paulo, SP &#8211; Brazil</institution>
      </aff>
      <aff id="aff2001">
        <label>2</label>
        <country country="BR">Brazil</country>
        <institution content-type="original">Instituto do Cora&#231;&#227;o do Hospital das Cl&#237;nicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de S&#227;o Paulo, S&#227;o Paulo, SP &#8211; Brazil</institution>
      </aff>
      <author-notes>
        <corresp id="c01001"><label>Mailing address:</label> Antonio de Padua Mansur Instituto do Cora&#231;&#227;o do Hospital das Cl&#237;nicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de S&#227;o Paulo - Av. Dr. En&#233;as C. Aguiar, 44. Postal Code 05403-000, S&#227;o Paulo, SP &#8211; Brazil E-mail: apmansur@yahoo.com </corresp>
        <fn fn-type="coi-statement">
          <label>Potential conflict of interest:</label>
          <p>No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.</p>
        </fn>
        <fn fn-type="edited-by">
          <label>Editor responsible for the review:</label>
          <p>Gl&#225;ucia Maria Moraes de Oliveira</p>
        </fn>
      </author-notes>
      <kwd-group xml:lang="en">
        <title>Keywords</title>
        <kwd>Kounis Syndrome</kwd>
        <kwd>Diclofenac</kwd>
        <kwd>Drug Hypersensitivity</kwd>
        <kwd>Myocardial Infarction</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
      <funding-group>
        <funding-statement>Sources of funding: There were no external funding sources for this study.</funding-statement>
      </funding-group>
    </front-stub>
    <body>
      <sec sec-type="intro">
        <title>Introduction</title>
        <p>Kounis syndrome (KS), first identified in 1991 as &#8220;allergic angina,&#8221; marks a significant intersection between cardiology and allergology. It involves episodes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), such as vasospasm, myocardial infarction, or stent thrombosis, occurring during allergic, anaphylactic, or hypersensitivity reactions.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup> This syndrome demonstrates the direct impact of systemic inflammation on coronary vessels, primarily through mast cell activation and degranulation.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref></sup> Although it was first described more than 30 years ago, KS remains highly underdiagnosed and frequently overlooked, leading to delays in proper treatment.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> Its pathophysiology includes the release of various inflammatory mediators like histamine, leukotrienes, tryptase, chymase, and platelet-activating factor. These substances can cause coronary artery vasospasm, trigger plaque erosion or rupture in existing atheromatous plaques, and promote a prothrombotic environment, resulting in ACS.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref></sup> Systematic reviews of existing literature, mainly case reports and series, are beginning to clarify KS&#8217;s epidemiological and clinical features. A recent comprehensive review by Cahuapaza-Gutierrez et al. of 214 patients showed a male predominance (69.6%), with an average age of 54.4 years, and hypertension was the most common comorbidity (33.6%).<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> The most frequent triggers are medications (38.3%), especially antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), followed by insect stings (26.2%).<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref></sup> KS is classified into three main types: type I (coronary spasm without pre-existing disease), type II (myocardial infarction with underlying coronary artery disease), and type III (stent thrombosis).<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref></sup> A proposed &#8220;type IV&#8221; involves thrombosis of coronary artery bypass grafts. Recognizing this classification is crucial for clinicians, as treatment must address both the acute cardiac ischemia and the allergic reaction. This case report of typical type II KS triggered by diclofenac sodium aims to contribute to the growing body of evidence and underscore the importance of heightened clinical awareness.</p>
        <sec sec-type="cases">
          <title>Case presentation</title>
          <p>A woman in her fifties presented to the emergency department, following an acute adverse reaction approximately 15 minutes after ingesting a single tablet of diclofenac sodium for pain management. Her initial symptoms included a generalized cutaneous eruption, profound hypotension, and syncope.</p>
        </sec>
        <sec>
          <title>Initial presentation and acute management</title>
          <p>Upon arrival, the patient was diaphoretic and in distress. Her vital signs indicated hypotension (blood pressure: 80/50 mmHg) and tachycardia (heart rate: 110 bpm). Physical examination confirmed a diffuse urticarial rash. An immediate 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) showed significant ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads (II, III, and aVF) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f01001">Figure 1</xref>). A diagnosis of acute inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction was made. The patient was urgently transferred to the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Emergency coronary angiography showed normal left ventricular function and identified a discrete thrombus in the mid-to-distal segment of the right coronary artery (RCA), with no evidence of significant atherosclerosis, defined as coronary lesions greater than 70% luminal narrowing or plaque rupture at that time (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f02001">Figure 2A</xref>). Intracoronary thrombolysis with alteplase was successfully administered. A follow-up angiogram confirmed complete reperfusion of the RCA with no residual thrombus or flow-limiting lesions (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f02001">Figure 2B</xref>).</p>
          <p>
            <fig id="f01001">
              <label>Figure 1</label>
              <caption>
                <title>&#8211; Electrocardiograms showing ST-segment elevation in inferior leads (II, III, and aVF) at hospital admission and on day 8.</title>
              </caption>
              <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-123-03-e20250698-50698-gf01-en.tif"/></fig>
          </p>
          <p>
            <fig id="f02001">
              <label>Figure 2</label>
              <caption>
                <title>&#8211; Coronary angiography showing thrombus in the right coronary artery (A) and resolution after thrombolysis (B).</title>
              </caption>
              <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-123-03-e20250698-50698-gf02-en.tif"/></fig>
          </p>
        </sec>
        <sec>
          <title>Past medical history and in-hospital course</title>
          <p>Her relevant medical history included systemic hypertension and a history of smoking 20 cigarettes daily, which she had quit prior to this event. She had no known drug allergies. After the procedure, she was stabilized in the coronary care unit. She was started on a secondary prevention regimen consisting of atenolol, simvastatin, and aspirin (ASA). Following a smooth 1-week hospital stay, she was discharged without symptoms, with well-controlled blood pressure (120/80 mmHg) and a heart rate of 56 bpm. Her body mass index (BMI) was 28.31 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, and physical examination at discharge was normal.</p>
        </sec>
        <sec>
          <title>Short- and long-term follow-up</title>
          <p>After 2 months, extensive laboratory tests were conducted to identify underlying prothrombotic conditions. Thrombophilia screening was negative for factor V Leiden, protein C, protein S, lupus anticoagulant, and antinuclear antibodies. Her lipid profile showed triglycerides at 118 mg/dL, total cholesterol at 189 mg/dL, HDL at 72 mg/dL, LDL at 93 mg/dL, and lipoprotein(a) at 13.9 mg/dL. Her homocysteine level was within the normal range at 11.8 &#956;mol/L. After 15 years of follow-up, she experienced a typical angina episode. An echocardiogram revealed a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction of 61%, pulmonary artery systolic pressure of 32 mmHg, and grade I diastolic dysfunction. Carotid Doppler ultrasound identified atheromatous changes without significant stenosis. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) showed advanced atherosclerosis with an Agatston calcium score of 467 and diffuse calcifications in the coronary arteries, along with a moderate (50% to 70%) stenosis in the posterior ventricular branch of the RCA. Two years later, she was diagnosed with peripheral vascular insufficiency caused by lower-limb atherosclerosis, including occlusion of the mid-segment of the left posterior tibial artery and development of collateral circulation. Her BMI had increased to 32.67 kg/m<sup>2</sup>.</p>
        </sec>
        <sec>
          <title>Final status</title>
          <p>At her most recent evaluation, the patient remained free of cardiovascular symptoms. Her long-term medication regimen has been optimized and currently includes ASA 100 mg daily, rosuvastatin 20 mg daily, and verapamil 160 mg daily for ongoing cardiovascular risk management.</p>
        </sec>
      </sec>
      <sec sec-type="discussion">
        <title>Discussion</title>
        <p>This case involves a woman in her fifties who developed an ST-elevation myocardial infarction secondary to a diclofenac-induced hypersensitivity reaction, exemplifying type II KS. The patient&#8217;s presentation aligns with the literature: rapid onset of allergic symptoms (rash and hypotension) followed by cardiac ischemia, with angiographic evidence of thrombus formation on a background of pre-existing but non-obstructive coronary artery disease, later confirmed by coronary tomography.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref>-<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B6">6</xref></sup> This case provides an opportunity to examine key aspects of KS. First, the trigger, diclofenac, is a well-known NSAID culprit. A systematic review by Pejcic et al. focusing specifically on diclofenac-related KS, identified 20 cases; ST-segment elevation was the most common ECG finding (85%), and hypotension was identified in 75% of patients.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B7">7</xref></sup> Although the review reported a 90% male predominance, our case shows that KS can affect either sex, and high suspicion should be maintained regardless of sex. The likely mechanism involves a dual pathway. As an NSAID, diclofenac can provoke hypersensitivity reactions via IgE-mediated mechanisms or, more commonly, through pharmacologic COX-1 inhibition, which shifts arachidonic acid metabolism toward the lipoxygenase pathway, increasing the production of cysteinyl leukotrienes and other inflammatory mediators.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B8">8</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B9">9</xref></sup> These mediators, released from mast cells, cause intense vasoconstriction (histamine and leukotrienes), increase vascular permeability leading to hypotension, and activate platelets.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B10">10</xref></sup> In vessels with pre-existing endothelial dysfunction or subclinical atherosclerosis, this inflammatory response can trigger plaque erosion and acute thrombus formation, as seen in our patient. The lack of significant stenosis after thrombolysis supports the concept that the process is dynamic, driven by vasospasm and thrombosis rather than a fixed obstructive lesion. From a treatment perspective, this case highlights the successful use of dual-pathway therapy, addressing both the allergic response and the coronary event simultaneously. The use of intracoronary thrombolysis was critical to resolving the thrombus. It is important to note the ongoing debate about adrenaline use in KS, as it may worsen coronary vasospasm through &#945;-adrenergic receptor stimulation.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref></sup> This emphasizes the need for tailored management and the development of formal clinical guidelines. Additionally, the patient&#8217;s long-term outcome was favorable, consistent with systematic review data indicating most patients with KS (86.92%) have a good prognosis with prompt treatment.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> This case underlines that KS is not as rare as often thought but is frequently overlooked. Increased clinician awareness and systematic consideration of KS in any patient presenting with ACS symptoms, along with allergic features, are crucial to improving diagnosis and management.</p>
        <sec>
          <title>Long-term prognosis and the identification of underlying disease</title>
          <p>The long-term follow-up of our patient over 15 years provides rare and valuable insight into the lasting effects of KS. Initially treated as an acute and reversible event, the patient&#8217;s subsequent clinical course revealed a progressive and extensive atherosclerotic burden. This was clearly documented by CCTA, which showed an Agatston calcium score of 467, and moderate stenosis, confirming significant underlying coronary artery disease that was not apparent during the initial thrombotic episode. This progression highlights a key aspect of type II KS: it often uncovers a vulnerable, silent coronary substrate prone to future cardiovascular events.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref></sup> The long-term importance lies in understanding that patients who survive an episode of KS are not &#8220;cured&#8221; once the acute allergic and thrombotic phases resolve. Instead, they carry a substantial risk for typical atherosclerotic progression. The systemic inflammatory environment during the anaphylactic event, characterized by mast cell-derived mediators such as tryptase and chymase, may not only trigger the acute coronary event but also contribute to long-term destabilization and growth of atherosclerotic plaques.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B9">9</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B10">10</xref></sup> Additionally, our patient&#8217;s development of symptomatic peripheral artery disease highlights that vulnerability is systemic, affecting the entire vascular system. Therefore, management of KS must go beyond the acute phase. As illustrated in this case, aggressive and lifelong secondary prevention is essential. This includes strict control of traditional risk factors and consistent adherence to antiplatelet therapy and high-intensity statins, as recommended by standard coronary artery disease guidelines.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B11">11</xref></sup> Our patient&#8217;s positive long-term symptomatic status likely results from this ongoing pharmacological approach. KS should, therefore, be viewed not just as an acute allergic and cardiac crisis but as a significant warning sign of underlying and potentially worsening cardiovascular disease, requiring continuous monitoring and management of risk factors throughout life.</p>
          <p>The patient&#8217;s extensive atherosclerotic disease 15 years after the initial event cannot be solely attributed to the previous KS episode. She had exhibited several potential cardiovascular risk factors: former smoking (with uncertain exposure during follow-up), inadequate LDL-cholesterol management at 1 month, and possible development of hypertension, diabetes, overweight, and other behavioral, socioeconomic, or environmental risks. Additionally, she was likely postmenopausal, which further increased her cardiovascular risk. Therefore, attributing her later atherosclerotic burden entirely to the KS episode would be inappropriate. Furthermore, the suggested link between mast cell activity and atherosclerosis involves chronic exposure, which is unlikely in the absence of recurrent allergic symptoms during follow-up. Even though KS is being reported more often, it still lacks prospective studies and specific guidelines to establish it as a definitive indicator of atherosclerotic vulnerability. Although the episode following diclofenac use might suggest such a connection, especially in patients with existing coronary artery disease, this association has not achieved clinical consensus and is not strongly supported by solid evidence.</p>
        </sec>
      </sec>
      <sec sec-type="conclusions">
        <title>Conclusion</title>
        <p>Clinicians should consider KS in patients with acute coronary symptoms after exposure to known allergens, including common drugs such as diclofenac. Early identification and combined treatment of allergic and cardiac components are crucial to prevent complications and improve outcomes.</p>
      </sec>
    </body>
    <back>
      <fn-group>
        <fn fn-type="other">
          <label>Study association:</label>
          <p> This study is not associated with any thesis or dissertation work.</p>
        </fn>
        <fn fn-type="other">
          <label>Ethics approval and consent to participate:</label>
          <p> This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.</p>
        </fn>
        <fn fn-type="other">
          <label>Use of Artificial Intelligence:</label>
          <p> The authors did not use any artificial intelligence tools in the development of this work.</p>
        </fn>
        <fn fn-type="data-availability" specific-use="data-in-article">
          <label>Data Availability Statement:</label>
          <p> The underlying content of the research text is contained within the manuscript.</p>
        </fn>
        <fn fn-type="financial-disclosure">
          <label>Sources of funding:</label>
          <p> There were no external funding sources for this study.</p>
        </fn>
      </fn-group>
    </back>
  </sub-article>
</article>
