Myocardic extended ischemia after scombroid syndrome

Abstract

We describe a case of a healthy woman, presenting to the emergency department because of sudden onset of diffuse pruriginous erythema, profound arterial hypotension and anginal chest pain, just after consuing a meal with cooked fresh tuna fish. She developed progressive ECG signs of myocardial ischemia suggesting subendocardial infarction and increased serum level of troponin I. After vigourous fluid resuscitation with iv fluids and treatment with anti-hystamine drugs, corticosteroids, beta-blockers and calcium-channell blockers she progressively recovered. A clinical diagnosis of sgombroid syndrome was established: it is a syndrome which may follow the ingestion of some spoiled fish, characterized by urticara, headhache, gastrointestinal upset and rarely bronchospasm, shock, coronary ischemia and arrythmias. A sample of the consumed fish could be analysed, finding a very high level of hystamine concentration, conferming the diagnosis of sgombroid syndrome. A coronary angiography was performed and confermed the patient had a normal coronary tree, devoid of atherosclerotic lesions. Her anginal symptoms and ECG signs were probably due to functional ischemia determined by hystamine mediated vasoconstriction and hypotension. This not so rare but not well known syndrome is further discussed and addressed to the emergency physicians’ attention, because of its importance in the differential diagnoses of suspected food allergies