Cardiovascular effects of scorpion venom, morphological changes in the myocardium

Pulmonary edema following scorpion envenomation: Mechanisms, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment

“…This hypothesis was confirmed by some clinical, experimental and histological studies [11][12][13]25]. In a clinical study [12], 34 patients with severe scorpion sting were reviewed and pertinent data related to the cardiovascular system such as hypertension, peripheral vascular collapse, congestive heart failure or pulmonary edema were analyzed.…”

“…The cardiogenic nature of pulmonary edema is actually well established by hemodynamic, echocardiographic, scintigraphic, electrocardiographic and histological studies [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Abroug et al [10] reported that all patients with SE-induced pulmonary edema had a mean pulmonary arterial occluded pressure (PAOP) = 24 ± 2 mm Hg; mean stroke volume index (SVI) = 22 ± 7 ml/m 2 ; mean cardiac index (CI) = 2.5 ± 0.5 l/min/m 2 .…”

Time-course of lipid peroxidation in different organs of mice treated withEchis pyramidum snake venom

“…A significant increase in lipid peroxida- tion was observed within 1 h of venom injection in kidney, cerebrum, and cerebellum, whereas the significant changes in liver, lung, and heart occurred at 3 h. There was a time-course gradual increase in lipid peroxidation in all the organs studied except heart where a steep rise in lipid peroxidation was observed after 3 h, peaking at 12 h, followed by a sharp decline at 24 h (Figure 1). Increase in lipid peroxidation in various organs following venom administration might be due to increased availability of fatty acids, which are mobilized from adipose tissue [7,21]. In vitro studies have shown a direct correlation between degree of lipid peroxidation and PLA 2 -induced phospholipids hydrolysis [22].…”

Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients bitten by scorpions

“…This hypothesis was confirmed by some clinical and experimental (13) studies. In effect, it is possible that the venom affected the myocardial cell membranes directly, altering its permeability as well as electrical properties, and through abnormal electrolytes fluxes and shifts, causes functional damages (1) . However the myocardial dysfunction may be due to myocardial ischemia (14) .…”

“…A direct effect of scorpion venom on the myocardial has also been shown in several studies. Finally, cardiac dysfunction might be due to myocardial ischemia, whether related to massive catecholamine outpouring or coronary abnormality (1) .…”