Background: Snake venom poisoning is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention. Bites from poisonous European snakes can lead to local tissue damage and systemic symptoms. Vipera ammodytes accounts for the most envenomation in Greece.
Methods: The demographic and epidemiological characteristics, clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome of 147 consecutive victims of V. ammodytes admitted to our hospital from 1988 to 2003 were reviewed and analyzed.
Results: The most common symptoms and signs included fang marks (100%), pain (100%), swelling (98.64%), ecchymosis (60.54%), tachycardia (32.65%), fainting or dizziness (29.93%), fever (23.13%), enlargement of regional lymph nodes (17.69%), nausea (16.33%), hypotension (13.61%), and vomiting (12.93%). The main complications were reduced range of motion, thrombophlebitis, local hemorrhagic blister formation, skin bleeding, rhabdomyolysis, reduced sensation, acute renal failure, necrosis with tissue loss, carpal tunnel syndrome, compartment syndrome, Kounis syndrome, and digit amputation.
Conclusions: A V. ammodytes bite is a potentially serious event that requires immediate hospital care. Yet, the majority of victims can be treated successfully with conservative methods. No deaths occurred in our series.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2005.10.001 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
De novo designed proteins neutralize lethal snake venom toxins.
Nature
January 2025
Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Snakebite envenoming remains a devastating and neglected tropical disease, claiming over 100,000 lives annually and causing severe complications and long-lasting disabilities for many more. Three-finger toxins (3FTx) are highly toxic components of elapid snake venoms that can cause diverse pathologies, including severe tissue damage and inhibition of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, resulting in life-threatening neurotoxicity. At present, the only available treatments for snakebites consist of polyclonal antibodies derived from the plasma of immunized animals, which have high cost and limited efficacy against 3FTxs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCp40-mediated complement C3 inhibition dampens inflammasome activation and inflammatory mediators storm induced by Bitis arietans venom.
Int Immunopharmacol
January 2025
Immunochemistry Laboratory, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Center of Toxins, Cell Signaling and Immune Response (CeTICS), CEPID, FAPESP, Brazil. Electronic address:
The complement system plays a crucial role in various pathophysiological conditions, including snake envenomation. In this study, we investigated the effects of Bitis arietans venom on the complement system using an ex vivo human whole blood model. Our findings demonstrate that B.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElucidating on the Quaternary Structure of Viper Venom Phospholipase A Enzymes in Aqueous Solution.
Biochimie
January 2025
LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address:
This study focuses on the quaternary structure of the viper-secreted phospholipase A (PLA), a central toxin in viper envenomation. PLA enzymes catalyse the hydrolysis of the sn-2 ester bond of membrane phospholipids. Small-molecule inhibitors that act as snakebite antidotes, such as varespladib, are currently in clinical trials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSnake venom galactoside-binding lectin from Bothrops jararacussu: Special role in leukocytes activation and function.
Int J Biol Macromol
January 2025
Fundação de Medicina Tropical - Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, AM, Brazil; Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, AM, Brazil. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- SVgalLs are toxins from Bothrops snake venoms that bind to galactose-containing carbohydrates in a calcium-dependent way.
- BjcuL, a key C-type lectin from Bothrops jararacussu venom, has been extensively studied for its role in inflammation by activating immune cell functions.
- The review discusses the current knowledge on snake venom lectins' effects in pathophysiology and outlines future research directions, including advanced technologies for discovering new therapeutic targets.
A multiplexing immunosensing platform for the simultaneous detection of snake and scorpion venoms: Towards a better management of antidote administration.
Talanta
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Alfaisal University, Al Zahrawi Street, Al Maather, Al Takhassusi Road, Riyadh, 11533, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address:
Envenomation accidents are usually diagnosed at the hospital through signs and symptoms assessment such as short breath, dizziness and vomiting, numbness, swilling, bruising, or bleeding around the affected site. However, this traditional method provides inaccurate diagnosis given the interface between snakebites and scorpion stings symptoms. Therefore, early determination of bites/stings source would help healthcare professionals select the suitable treatment for patients, thus improving envenomation management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!