Myocardial injury caused by an anaphylactic reaction to ampicillin/sulbactam in a patient with normal coronary arteries.

A 63-year-old woman presented with an exacerbation of her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. While receiving an infusion of ampicillin/sulbactam, she developed anaphylaxis-induced myocardial injury. Subsequent coronary angiography revealed minimal atherosclerosis of her coronary arteries. The patient remained under continuous observation and cardiac monitoring throughout her reaction, thus providing unique insight into the pathophysiology of myocardial injury caused by anaphylaxis. The medical literature that pertains to this phenomenon is discussed.