Coagulopathy in patients who experience snakebite.
10.3904/kjim.2008.23.2.94
- Author:
Jae Seok KIM
1
;
Jae Won YANG
;
Min Soo KIM
;
Seung Tae HAN
;
Bi Ro KIM
;
Myung Sang SHIN
;
Jong In LEE
;
Byoung Geun HAN
;
Seung Ok CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea. kidney77@yonsei.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Coagulopathy;
Snakebite
- MeSH:
Animals;
Blood Coagulation Disorders/*etiology;
Case-Control Studies;
Female;
Hemolysis/drug effects;
Humans;
Incidence;
Leukocytosis/etiology;
Male;
Retrospective Studies;
Rhabdomyolysis/etiology;
Risk Factors;
Snake Bites/*complications
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
2008;23(2):94-99
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Coagulopathy is a common complication of snakebite, but there is little information on the clinical importance of coagulopathy. We analyzed the characteristics of coagulopathy after envenomation. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients who experienced snakebite were enrolled in this study. We divided all the patients into three groups by the ISTH DIC scoring system: the normal, simple coagulopathy and DIC groups. The coagulopathy group included both the simple coagulopathy and DIC groups. We then conducted a case-control study. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in the Hct, protein, albumin, ALP and cholesterol levels in the coagulopathy group, and only the cholesterol level was deceased in the DIC group (p<0.05). Leukocytosis and rhabdomyolysis were significantly associated with coagulopathy, and hemolysis and rhabdomyolysis were associated with DIC (p<0.05). The presence of rhabdomyolysis was considered a risk factor for coagulopathy (p<0.05). These conditions continued for up to six to seven days after the snakebite. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of coagulopathy with using these characteristics is helpful to properly manage the patients who experience snakebite.
