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complications
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Anonymous post on February 7, 2001
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Have there been recorded cases of long-term cardiac damage from snakebite?
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RE: complications
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by Charper on February 7, 2001
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I certainly wouldn't doubt it, although I can't point to any particular cases.
Damage directly to the myocardium could occur with hemotoxic venoms, and several species of snakes have venoms with direct cardiotoxic properties, i.e, Black mambas and Gaboon Vipers. These tend to affect the actual nerve pathways in the heart, causing sometimes severe dysrhythmias.
Keep in mind that the venoms of most snakes contain different ratios of hemotoxic, myotoxic, cytotoxic and neurotoxic components. Very few are purely one way or the other.
CH
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RE: complications
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by Klaus on February 8, 2001
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Long-term damage to the heart following snake envenomation is an exceptionally rare complication but may result from intoxication with systemic (as opposed to locally acting) myotoxic protein enzymes of the phospholipase A2 class. Such toxins - among many others - are mostly present in the venoms of Viperidae, in particular in the genus Bothrops and Trimeresurus. Usually the worst complication from myotoxins is kidney failure following the release of proteins from damaged muscle that clogg up the kidney filter system. This is a very prominent problem with Daboia russellii and Crotalus d. terrificus envenomation.
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RE: complications
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by Charper on February 11, 2001
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You have described rhabdomyolosis. Both the Canebrake rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus atricaudatus and the Mojave rattlesnake, C. scutulatus, also cause this problem. Studies of these 2 snakes though, have shown that while there are increased CPK enzyme and myoglobin levels, there is no damage directly to the myocoardium.
Chris Harper
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