J Korean Geriatr Soc.
2008 Mar;12(1):50-52.
Cerebral Infarction after Honey Bee Venom Acupuncture
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Neurology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. ybgne@ns.kosinmed.or.kr
Abstract
- Bee venom acupuncture have been associated with wide variety of reactions from mild local reaction to fatal systemic reaction. Vascular complications of bee and wasp stings are rare. A 71-year-old man developed pontine and thalamic infarction after honey bee venom acupuncture. Dysarthria and left hemiparesis were noted 3 days later. The brain MRI showed cerebral infarcts in the left pons and thalamus. The presumed mechanisms include vasoconstriction and platelet aggregation secondary to an injection of distinct allergens contained in bee venom acupuncture.
