Case Reports in Thrombosis: 2022

The emergence of the rare syndrome called vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) after adenoviral vector vaccines, including ChAdOx1 nCov-19, raises concern about one's predisposing risk factors. Here we report the case of a 56-year-old white man who developed VITT leading to death within 9 days of symptom onset. He presented with superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, right frontal intraparenchymal hematoma, frontoparietal subarachnoid and massive ventricular hemorrhage, and right lower extremity arterial and venous thrombosis. His laboratory results showed elevated D-dimer, C-reactive protein, tissue factor, P-selectin (CD62p), and positive anti-platelet factor 4. The patient's plasma promoted higher CD62p expression in healthy donors' platelets than the controls. Genetic investigation on coagulation, thrombophilia, inflammation, and type I interferon-related genes was performed. From rare variants in European or African genomic databases, 68 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in one allele and 11 in two alleles from common SNPs were found in the patient genome. This report highlights the possible relationship between VITT and genetic variants. Additional investigations regarding the genetic predisposition of VITT are needed.

Background: Kounis syndrome is a hypersensitive coronary artery disease caused by the body's exposure to allergens, which is induced by various drugs and environmental factors. This entity has been described primarily in isolated case reports and case series. We report a case of type III Kounis syndrome caused by cefoperazone-sulbactam.

Case presentation: A 79-year-old man who received an infusion of cefoperazone-sulbactam in Respiratory Department of our hospital for recurrent infections. 28 minutes later, he developed skin flushing of the trunk and extremities, soon followed by loss of consciousness and shock. With antianaphylaxis, pressor therapy, and fluid rehydration, the patient was admitted to the ICU for treatment. During which, he experienced recurrent ventricular fibrillation and a progressive increase in troponin I levels. The ECG of the patient showed that the ST segment elevation of lead II, III, avF, and V3R–V5R was 0.10–0.20 MV. An urgent coronary angiography showed an in-stent thrombosis in the middle part of the right coronary artery, occlusion of the distal flow with TIMI grade 0. The diagnosis was type III Kounis syndrome with cardiogenic shock. Despite aggressive treatment, the patient died on day 7 after ICU admission.

Conclusion: Kunis syndrome is a life-threatening disease, and therefore allergic reactions in patients with a history of cephalosporin allergy and coronary stent implantation should be considered and treated promptly.