Citation

White J. Toxicon 2005; 45(8): 951-967.

Affiliation

Toxinology Dept, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide SA 5006, Australia. toxinaus@wch.sa.gov.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.toxicon.2005.02.030

PMID

15922768

Abstract

Snakebite affects around 2.5 million humans annually, with greater than 100,000 deaths. Coagulopathy is a significant cause of both morbidity and mortality in these patients, either directly, or indirectly. This paper reviews clinical aspects of snakebite coagulopathy, including types of coagulopathy (procoagulant, fibrinogen clotting, fibrinolytic, platelet-active, anticoagulant, thrombotic, haemorrhagic), diagnosis and treatment. Examples of clinical laboratory findings in selected types of snakebite coagulopathy are presented. Where available, antivenom is the most effective treatment, while standard treatments for other forms of coagulopathy, such as factor replacement therapy and heparin, are either ineffective or dangerous in snakebite coagulopathy, except in specific situations.

Language: en