Comparison of two types of polyvalent snake antivenom used in treatment

Abstract

Öz Purpose: In this study; we aimed to compare the effectiveness of the two types of polyvalent snake antivenom and to determine the possible local and systemic reactions in patients who admitted to the emergency department with snake bite. Materials and Methods: We performed this retrospective study on 30 patients who complained of snakebite. We grouped the patients according to the antivenom type (PoliseraTM or Polivalan TM) which they received. Demographic characteristics of the patients, vital signs, local tissue findings, and laboratory parameters were recorded in the standard data form. The following data were also recorded; the number of vials of snake antivenom used in each group, additional doses of venom were administered, and whether any local or systemic reaction to antivenom has developed or not. Results: Thirty patients were included in the study. 16 patients were administered PoliseraTM (Group 1) snake antivenom and 14 patients were administered Polivalan TM (Group 2) snake antivenom. Patients in Group 1 were given an average of 9.1±7.3 vials, while patients in Group 2 were given an average of 11.6±12.7 vials. More allergic reactions-urticaria, fever, and cellulite were observed in the group receiving PolivalanTM antivenom. Conclusion: Different methodologies arising from the production of antivenom, pyrogen contamination, and differences in packaging can cause different effects and side effects even in products with the same dose and antivenom content. Amaç: Bu çalışmada; acil servise yılan ısırması ile başvuran hastalarda kullanılan iki tip polivalan yılan antivenomun etkinliğinin karşılaştırılması ve olası lokal ve sistemik yan etkilerin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu retrospektif çalışmaya yılan ısırması şikayeti olan 30 hasta dahil edildi. Hastalar aldıkları antivenom tipine (PoliseraTM veya PolivalanTM) göre gruplandırıldı. Hastaların demografik özelliklerinin yanı sıra, vital bulguları, lokal doku bulguları ve laboratuvar parametreleri standart veri formuna kaydedildi. Her grupta kaç vial yılan anti serumu kullanıldığı, kaç kez ek doz venom ihtiyacı olduğu; antivenoma karşı herhangi bir reaksiyon gelişip gelişmediği kaydedildi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya 30 hasta dahil edildi. 16 hastaya Polisera TM (Grup 1) yılan antivenomu, 14 hastaya PolivalanTM (Grup 2) yılan antivenomu verildi. Grup 1'deki hastalara ortalama 9.1±7.3 vial antivenom verilirken, Grup 2'deki hastalara ortalama 11.6±12.7 vial verildi. PolivalanTM antivenom alan grupta daha fazla alerjik reaksiyon-ürtiker, ateş ve selülitgözlendi. Sonuç: Pirojen kontaminasyonu, üretimden kaynaklanan farklı metodolojiler ve ambalaj farklılıkları aynı doz ve içeriğe sahip antivenom ürünlerinde bile farklı etkilere ve yan etkilere neden olabilir.

The Role of Procalcitonin in Predicting Necessity of Antivenom Administration and Clinical Severity in Snake Bites

“…There was no mortality in the study groups. Our demographic data were mostly consistent with previous literatüre (Kara 2011;Gulen et al 2020;Segmen et al 2020). Again, in our study, we found that the grade of snake bite severity increased significantly in accordance with PCT levels especially in patients with grades 2 and 3, and PCT levels above 13.45 were predictive of the necessity of antivenom administration with 100% sensitivity and specificity.…”

“…It is possible that TNF-α may be one of the culprits in the development of systemic and local findings in these envenomations. In the study of Gulen et al (2020) regarding levels of TNF-α and IL-1 in snake bites, difference between TNF-α and IL-1 levels measured at the time of admission and at the 12th hour was found to be statistically significant (Kara 2011). In addition, Acikalin and Gokel (2011) demonstrated higher TNF-α levels in snake envenomation, which were elevated further as clinical severity of envenomation increased.…”