The authors briefly describe an 87-year-old man who experienced an acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the context of an anaphylactic reaction caused by a European hornet (Vespa cabro linnaeus) envenomation. This unusual case highlights the potential cardiovascular complications associated with common insect stings such as those caused by hymenoptera. Thus, a thorough cardiovascular evaluation is essential in such cases since the vasoactive, inflammatory, and thrombogenic mediators of anaphylactic reactions may provoke myocardial ischemia.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Levine HD: Acute myocardial infarction following wasp sting. Am Heart J91:365-374, 1976.
2.
Jones E, Joy M: Acute myocardial infarction after a wasp sting. Br Heart J59:506-508, 1988.
3.
Wagdi P, Mehan VK, Burgi H, et al: Acute myocardial infarction after wasp stings in a patient with normal coronary arteries. Am Heart J128:820-823, 1994.
4.
Ceyhan C, Ercan E, Tekten T, et al: Myocardial infarction following a bee sting. Int J Cardiol80:251-253, 2001.
5.
Quercia O, Foschi FG, Marsigli L, et al: Immunotherapy despite anaphylaxis-induced myocardial infarction. Allergy56:89-90, 2001.
6.
Lombardi A, Vandelli R, Cere E, et al: Silent acute myocardial infarction following a wasp sting. Ital Heart J4:638-641, 2003.
7.
Habermann E: Bee and wasp venoms. Science177: 314-322, 1972.
8.
Bach MK: Mediators of anaphylaxis and inflammation. Annu Rev Microbiol36:371-413, 1982.
9.
McMillan R, Bakich MJ, Yelenosky RJ: The adrenaline binding site on human platelets. Br J Haematol41:597-604, 1979.