Efficacy and safety of snake antivenom therapy: Experience of a regional hospital

Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine

Volumn 13, Issue 2, 2006, Pages 76-78

  Fung, Hin Tat ^a   Lam, Ka Keung ^b   Kam, Chak Wah ^b  

^a TUEN MUN HOSPITAL   (Hong Kong)

^b NONE

Author keywords

Anaphylaxis; Antivenins; Blood coagulation disorders; Snakebite; Venoms

Indexed keywords

ADRENALIN; FRESH FROZEN PLASMA; HISTAMINE H1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST; HYDROCORTISONE; SNAKE VENOM ANTISERUM;

ABSENCE OF SIDE EFFECTS; ADOLESCENT; ADULT; ANAPHYLAXIS; BLOOD CLOTTING DISORDER; CLINICAL ARTICLE; CONTROLLED STUDY; DRUG EFFICACY; DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY; DRUG SAFETY; EMERGENCY MEDICINE; ENVENOMATION; FEMALE; HUMAN; INTERNATIONAL NORMALIZED RATIO; MALE; PARESTHESIA; PRESCHOOL CHILD; RETROSPECTIVE STUDY; REVIEW; RURAL AREA; SERUM SICKNESS; SKIN NECROSIS; SNAKEBITE; SWELLING; THROMBOCYTOPENIA;

EID: 33646236109     PISSN: 10249079     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/102490790601300209     Document Type: Review

References (33)

1. Ng WS, Cheung WL. Snake bites in Hong Kong (T. albolabris and other species): clinical features and management. Hong Kong J Emerg Med 1998;5(2):71-6.
2. Hon KL, Kwok LW, Leung TF. Snakebites in children in the densely populated city of Hong Kong: a 10-year survey. Acta Paediatr 2004;93(2):270-2.
3. Watt G, Padre L, Tuazon L, Theakston RD, Laughlin L. Bites by the Philippine cobra (Naja naja philippinensis): prominent neurotoxicity with minimal local signs. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1988;39(3):306-11.
4. Warrell DA, Greenwood BM, Davidson NM, Ormerod LD, Prentice CR. Necrosis, haemorrhage and complement depletion following bites by the spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis). Q J Med 1976;45(177):1-22.
5. Liao WB, Lee CW, Tsai YS, Liu BM, Chung KJ. Influential factors affecting prognosis of snakebite patients management: Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital experience. Chang Gung Med J 2000;23(10):577-83.
6. Lo TB, Chan YH, Lee CY. Chemical studies of Formosan cobra (Naja naja atra) venom I, chromatographic separation of crude venom on CM-Sephadex and preliminary characterization of its components. J Chin Chem Soc 1966;13(1):25-37.
7. Moura-da-Silva AM, Laing GD, Paine MJ, Dennison JM, Politi V, Crampton JM, et al. Processing of pro-tumor necrosis factor-alpha by venom metalloproteinases: a hypothesis explaining local tissue damage following snake bite. Eur J Immunol 1996;26(9):2000-5.
8. Bjarnason JB, Fox JW. Hemorrhagic metalloproteinases from snake venoms. Pharmacol Ther 1994;62(3):325-72.
9. Iddon D, Theakston RD, Ownby CL. A study of the pathogenesis of local skin necrosis induced by Naja nigricollis (spitting cobra) venom using simple histological staining techniques. Toxicon 1987;25(6):665-72.
10. Ownby CL, Colberg TR, Claypool PL, Odell GV. In vivo test of the ability of antiserum to myotoxin a from prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis) venom to neutralize local myonecrosis induced by myotoxin a and homologous crude venom. Toxicon 1984;22(1):99-105.
11. Stewart RM, Page CP, Schwesinger WH, McCarter R, Martinez J, Aust JB. Antivenin and fasciotomy/debridement in the treatment of the severe rattlesnake bite. Am J Surg 1989;158(6):543-7.
12. Anonymous. Agkistrodon halys bite treated with specific antivenin: discussion on 665 cases (author's transl). Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi 1980;18(6):568-9.
13. Anonymous. Agkistrodon halys bite treated with specific antivenin. Observation of 530 cases. Chin Med J (Engl) 1976;2(1):59-62.
14. Russell FE, Ruzic N, Gonzalez H. Effectiveness of antivenin (Crotalidae) polyvalent following injection of Crotalus venom. Toxicon 1973;11(6):461-4.
15. Juckett G, Hancox JG. Venomous snakebites in the United States: management review and update. Am Fam Physician 2002;65(7):1367-74.
16. Gold BS, Barish RA, Dart RC. North American snake envenomation: diagnosis, treatment, and management. Emerg Med Clin North Am 2004;22(2):423-43.
17. Lagrange RG, Russell FE. Blood platelet studies in man and rabbits following Crotalus envenomation. Proc West Pharmacol Soc 1970;13:99-105.
18. Riffer E, Curry SC, Gerkin R. Successful treatment with antivenin of marked thrombocytopenia without significant coagulopathy following rattlesnake bite. Ann Emerg Med 1987;16(11):1297-9.
19. Li QB, Yu QS, Huang GW, Tokeshi Y, Nakamura M, Kinjoh K, et al. Hemostatic disturbances observed in patients with snakebite in south China. Toxicon 2000; 38(10):1355-66.
20. Holstege CP, Miller MB, Wermuth M, Furbee B, Curry SC. Crotalid snake envenomation. Crit Care Clin 1997; 13(4):889-921.
21. Simon TL, Grace TG. Envenomation coagulopathy in wounds from pit vipers. N Engl J Med 1981;305(8):443-7.
22. Hutton RA, Looareesuwan S, Ho M, Silamut K, Chanthavanich P, Karbwang J, et al. Arboreal green pit vipers (genus Trimeresurus) of South-East Asia: bites by T. albolabris and T. macrops in Thailand and a review of the literature. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1990;84 (6):866-74.
23. Kouyoumdjian JA, Polizelli C, Lobo SM, Guimares SM. Fatal extradural haematoma after snake bite (Bothrops moojeni). Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1991;85(4):552.
24. Reid HA, Thean PC, Chan KE, Baharom AR. Clinical effects of bites by Malayan viper (Ancistrodon rhodostoma). Lancet 1963;1:617-21.
25. Landefeld CS, Goldman L. Major bleeding in outpatients treated with warfarin: incidence and prediction by factors known at the start of outpatient therapy. Am J Med 1989;87(2):144-52.
26. Gaydos LA, Freireich EJ, Mantel N. The quantitative relation between platelet count and hemorrhage in patients with acute leukemia. N Engl J Med 1962;266 (18):905-9.
27. Malasit P, Warrell DA, Chanthavanich P, Viravan C, Mongkolsapaya J, Singhthong B, et al. Prediction, prevention, and mechanism of early (anaphylactic) antivenom reactions in victims of snake bites. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986;292(6512):17-20.
28. Reid HA. Adder bites in Britain. Br Med J 1976;2 (6028):153-6.
29. Theakston RD, Phillips RE, Warrell DA, Galagedera Y, Abeysekera DT, Dissanayaka P, et al. Envenoming by the common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) and Sri Lankan cobra (Naja naja naja): efficacy and complications of therapy with Haffkine antivenom. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1990;84(2):301-8.
30. Premawardhena AP, de Silva CE, Fonseka MM, Gunatilake SB, de Silva HJ. Low dose subcutaneous adrenaline to prevent acute adverse reactions to antivenom serum in people bitten by snakes: randomised, placebo controlled trial. BMJ 1999;318 (7190):1041-3.
31. Fan HW, Marcopito LF, Cardoso JL, Franca FO, Malaque CM, Ferrari RA, et al. Sequential randomised and double blind trial of promethazine prophylaxis against early anaphylactic reactions to antivenom for Bothrops snake bites. BMJ 1999;318(7196):1451-2.
32. 2 receptor subtypes. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1994; 93(3):606-14.
33. Deitch S, Williams SR, Clark RF. Blebs associated with rattlesnake envenomation followed by serum sickness. J Emerg Med 2002;22(2):207-8.