The actor, who died on the night of Thursday to Friday October 4, was the victim, according to his entourage, of a serious allergic reaction linked to the injection of a “contrast product” used during certain medical examinations.
An unfortunate accident? French actor Michel Blanc, pillar of the Splendid troupe, died suddenly of a heart attack this Friday, October 4 at the age of 72. According to those close to him, the actor was the victim of anaphylactic shock, the most serious form of the allergic reaction. According to the first elements, it was a contrast product used during a medical examination which would have triggered this very brutal allergic reaction, causing Quincke’s edema and ultimately, cardiac arrest. Release explains to you what there is to know about this extremely rare accident.
What is a contrast agent?
During an x-ray examination and an MRI, it is not uncommon to be administered a contrast agent. This medical substance, most often injected intravenously, allows doctors to highlight (contrast) organs, veins, or potential tumors within healthy tissue. “This allows you to see better on the radios,” sums up to Release Doctor Nhân Pham Thi, allergist at Necker hospital in Paris. It is impossible to know if you are allergic before giving your first injection, but the doctor wants to be reassuring: “the first time, the risk of having anaphylactic shock is very low, almost zero”. In the vast majority of cases, the allergic reaction will be quite trivial.
What is anaphylactic shock?
Anaphylactic shock is the most severe form of anaphylaxis, itself the most severe manifestation of allergy. Its seriousness lies in the fact that it can be fatal. It can manifest as facial edema or angioedema, breathing difficulties or even loss of consciousness.
In 60% of cases, this spectacular reaction occurs because of a food allergy. According to Inserm, the food allergens most frequently involved in anaphylactic shock are milk, shellfish and fish, and even nuts. But it can also occur, in 16% of cases, because of the venom of bees, wasps and other hornets. Finally, medications: “anti-inflammatories, aspirins, beta-blockers, antibiotics and anesthetics are most often involved”, writes the research organization on its site. It is therefore more common to experience anaphylactic shock after eating peanuts or being stung by a hymenoptera. “Having anaphylactic shock because of a contrast product is very rare,” explains to Release le doctor Nhan Pham Thi.
According to a European study, 0.3% of the population will suffer from anaphylaxis at some point in their life. On the other hand, the risk of mortality from anaphylactic shock has never really been evaluated. It is not listed as a cause of death on death certificates. According to studies, in Europe, cases vary from 1 to 5 per million inhabitants. No official figures are available in France, but experts estimate this type of death at around fifty per year.
What to do in case of such an allergic reaction?
Anaphylactic shock is not necessarily fatal. It can be contained, thanks to the adrenaline injection. This first-line medication most often comes in the form of an auto-injector pen. “Someone who is very allergic to peanuts and who has already had a reaction often has an adrenaline injector pen with them, to restart the vascular system in the event of a strong reaction,” develops Nhân Pham Thi. Antihistamine medications also help reduce the allergic reaction.
