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Review
. 2016 Nov 1:2016:bcr2015213974.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2015-213974.

Possible complication of bee stings and a review of the cardiac effects of bee stings

Prabha Nini Gupta  1 , B Krishna Kumar  1 , Praveen Velappan  1 , M D Sudheer  1
Affiliations
Review

Possible complication of bee stings and a review of the cardiac effects of bee stings

Prabha Nini Gupta et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

We report the case of a patient who, ∼3 weeks after multiple bee stings, developed a prolonged heart block, syncope and cardiac arrest. This required a temporary pacemaker to be implanted, which was later replaced with a permanent pacemaker. An ECG taken following surgery for a fractured humerus 6 years earlier was reportedly normal. The patient had been a rubber tapper who walked ∼1.5 km/day, but after the bee attack he was no longer able to walk or get up from the bed without experiencing syncope. We presume that the bee venom caused these signs, as well as the resulting heart block, which persisted long after the bee sting had subsided. Since his coronary angiogram was normal we believe he had a Kounis type involvement of the cardiovascular system, namely profound coronary spasm that caused complete heart block that did not recover. Another probable reason for the complete heart block could have been that the bees had consumed the pollen of a rhododendron flower, causing 'grayanotoxin' poisoning and severe heart block. The other effects of bee sting are discussed briefly.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The patient's ECG showing a right bundle branch block (RBBB) with left anterior hemiblock (LAHB); a 3:2 type 2 Mobitz block; ventricular rate of 50 bpm.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The patient's second ECG showing a slow heart rate and left axis deviation with varying 2:1 and complete heart block.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The remaining half of the ECG of the patient showing a ventricular rate of 27 bpm, right bundle branch block and complete heart block.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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