An unusual cause of hypotension and abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) — scombroid poisoning

Broad Electrocardiogram Syndromes Spectrum: From Common Emergencies to Particular Electrical Heart Disorders

Electrocardiogram (ECG) still remains a very useful diagnostic method in modern cardiology. Its broad availability, noninvasiveness and good sensitivity explain why it plays a capital role in the very beginning of the process of diagnosis for every patient, with or without cardiac-related complaints. For the practitioner, good training in ECG interpretation is mandatory. Sometimes, the ECG trace reveals particular aspects that may cause confusion and complicate decision-making. In this article, we present several less common situations underlying the general context and ECG features. The syndromes studied have a high pathological significance and may range from acute emergencies that call for a rapid therapeutical response to chronic syndromes that require prolonged observation, monitoring and risk stratification.

Acute coronary syndrome from scombroid poisoning: a narrative review of case reports

BACKGROUND

Scombroid syndrome constitutes a toxic illness caused by ingestion of improperly stored fish, usually contaminated by Gram-negative bacteria producing histamine and other toxins. Scombroid currently accounts for approximately 5% of food toxicities in the United States. Though cardiovascular complications are infrequent, some patients experienced acute coronary syndrome (ACS) on admission to hospital. This article focuses on the main pathophysiology, clinical features, therapy, and outcomes in scombroid-related ACS.

METHODS

Starting from the consolidated knowledge on histaminergic syndromes, we performed a literature search for studies describing patient series and single cases presenting at emergency department with scombroid toxicity complicated by myocardial ischemia.

RESULTS

After a pathophysiological overview on histaminergic syndromes, we carefully analyzed a dataset of 19 patients from 13 studies, published from 1997 to December 2020. Electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, angiographic features, clinical course, hospital complications, and therapeutic approach were described. Shared and differential aspects of scombroid ACS with typical atherosclerotic ischemia, Kounis, MINOCA and Takotsubo syndromes are also discussed.

CONCLUSION

An ischemic heart scombroid syndrome may occur in some patients after the eating of improperly stored fish food. Currently available studies indicate this as a benign condition, except for patients with history of coronary artery disease, previous ACS, or anaphylaxis. Of clinical concern, there is a potential of hemodynamic failure in the acute stage, even in apparently healthy people.

Severe scombroid poisoning and life-threatening hypotension

Scombroid fish poisoning (SFP), the most common fish-related illness worldwide, is a histamine response caused by the heat stable toxin histamine. A healthy 48-year-old woman and co-author of this paper developed palpitations, tachycardia and hypotension 10 min after a tuna steak dinner. She subsequently developed numbness of her face, flushing, conjunctival erythema, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache and chest pain. Her ECG revealed tachycardia with ST depression. Her hypotension did not respond to fluid resuscitation, and she required phenylephrine. Based on exposure history, clinical syndrome, exclusion of other diseases and consultation with poison control, a diagnosis of scombroid poisoning was established. The state health department was notified. The patient was weaned off vasopressors, dosed famotidine and discharged 43 hours after fish ingestion with no symptoms and normal ECG. SFP is an often misdiagnosed and underreported illness with the potential to cause life-threatening hypotension.

Intoxicación escombroide secundaria al consumo de atún: presentación de un caso

La intoxicación escombroide es ocasionada por el consumo de ciertos tipos de pescado (de la familia Scombridae), comúnmente el atún, los cuales acumulan grandes concentraciones de histamina cuando los procedimientos de refrigeración son inadecuados, ocasionando en quienes los consumen síntomas muy similares a los de una alergia alimentaria, por lo que es frecuente que no se diagnostique correctamente. Generalmente, los síntomas desaparecen en pocas horas y no suelen ser graves, excepto algunos casos descritos en la literatura especializada, de hipotensión, broncoespasmo, dificultad respiratoria, taquicardia supraventricular e, incluso, infarto agudo de miocardio.Este fue, precisamente, el caso de una mujer que ingresó al servicio de urgencias de un hospital de tercer nivel de Medellín a los pocos minutos de haber ingerido atún con una sintomatología típica de la intoxicación, pero con taquicardia supraventricular, una de sus manifestaciones graves y atípicas.