Nephrotoxicity Due to Snake Bite

Abstract

Viperidae species snakes cause serious local tissue toxicity, and systemic poisoning states such as disseminated intravascular haemolysis. Rarely, acute kidney insufficiency may be seen due to snake bites. An eighteen year old male patient was transported to our clinic due to snake bite in the left f ankle. On admission he was administered three vials of antivenom with respect to his local and systemic poisoning signs. All coagulatioan parameters were normal after antivenom therapy and he was hospitalized. On the second day of hospitalisation his haematocrit and haemoglobin values were decreased and urea and creatinine values were increased and it was thought that these were due to intravascular haemolysis. Additional antivenom administered and fluid therapy was begun. During his hospitalisation renal function tests and hemogram of the patient were followed. He was discharged on the fifth day of hospitalisation with normal urea and creatinin levels. Intravascular haemolysis is an independent risk factor for nephrotoxicity in patients admitted with snake bites. Additional antivenom and aggressive fluid treatment may be beneficial in acute kidney insufficiency in these patients.

Keywords

• Snake bite, nephrotoxicity, antivenom

Yılan Isırmasına Bağlı Nefrotoksisite

Abstract

Viperidae species snakes cause serious local tissue toxicity, and systemic poisoning states such as disseminated intravascular haemolysis. Rarely, acute kidney insufficiency may be seen due to snake bites. An eighteen year old male patient was transported to our clinic due to snake bite in the left f ankle. On admission he was administered three vials of antivenom with respect to his local and systemic poisoning signs. All coagulatioan parameters were normal after antivenom therapy and he was hospitalized. On the second day of hospitalisation his haematocrit and haemoglobin values were decreased and urea and creatinine values were increased and it was thought that these were due to intravascular haemolysis. Additional antivenom administered and fluid therapy was begun. During his hospitalisation renal function tests and hemogram of the patient were followed. He was discharged on the fifth day of hospitalisation with normal urea and creatinin levels. Intravascular haemolysis is an independent risk factor for nephrotoxicity in patients admitted with snake bites. Additional antivenom and aggressive fluid treatment may be beneficial in acute kidney insufficiency in these patients

Keywords

• Snake bite, nephrotoxicity, antivenom

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