Be careful what you eat and drink; Coprinic and Kounis syndrome in a patient with the Samter`s triad

Allergic reactions to chemicals, food products or even insect bites are encountered all over the world with a variety of manifestations. Symptoms range from the development of a minor rash to life threatening anaphylactic reactions. Sometimes, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) can be registered in such patients, which may have a serious impact on the course and management of the allergic reaction.

Mushroom poisoning constitutes the main portion of plant toxicities in Spain. Depending on the type of mushroom, the adverse effects range from mild gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms to major cytotoxic effects resulting in organ failure and death. Coprinopsis atramentaria poisoning is rare but with serious consequences.

We report a case of a 27 year old patient with a previous history of mild persistent asthma, nasal polyps and aspirin allergy that arrived to the Emergency Department with dizziness and temor after consuming beer at a party. On arrival to the hospital, the patient suddenly collapsed, with an electrocardiogram (ECG) showing ST elevation in the inferior leads and 3rd degree atrioventricular (AV) block accompanied by urticarial-like lesions. After administration of treatment, the patient and ECG abnormalities improved. A detailed medical history showed that the patient had eaten scrambled mushrooms and beer. Expert analysis demonstrated that the combined consumption of Coprinopsis atramentaria and alcoholic beverages produced a disulfiram-like reaction (Coprinic syndrome) and type I Kounis syndrome. No case like this has been previously reported.