Published online Dec 26, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i24.6432
Peer-review started: July 28, 2020
First decision: September 24, 2020
Revised: October 7, 2020
Accepted: November 14, 2020
Article in press: November 14, 2020
Published online: December 26, 2020
Processing time: 140 Days and 16.6 Hours
Wet cupping (WC) is a traditional therapy of skin suction-assisted bloodletting that is widely used in modern alternative medicine in Asia and the Middle East. Herein, we report the case of a male who presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and life-threatening anemia and underwent excessive WC.
A 55-year-old male presented with chest pain (30 min) and dyspnea (3 wk). His initial electrocardiogram suggested STEMI in the anterior wall. Furthermore, his laboratory results showed severe anemia with a hemoglobin level of 4.1 g/dL. Of note, the patient underwent regular WC therapy for chronic back pain, which he had recently intensified. His WC practice resulted in life-threatening anemia and eventually STEMI. Percutaneous coronary intervention in the left anterior descending artery was performed to treat the STEMI. His dyspnea dramatically improved after the transfusion, and his hemoglobin level returned to 14.8 g/dL within 2 mo after discharge. He has been uneventful for the last seven years of follow-up.
The current case demonstrates that excessive WC without adequate medical monitoring can result in severe anemia, which can further develop into STEMI.
Core Tip: Wet cupping (WC) is a traditional therapy for promoting bloodletting by applying subatmospheric pressure to a glass cup attached to a skin-pricked, bleeding lesion. Herein, we report a man who self-performed excessive WC and presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction and life-threatening anemia.