EFFICACY OF ANTIVENOM THERAPY FOR NEUTRALIZING CIRCULATING VENOM ANTIGENS IN PATIENTS STUNG BY TITYUS-SERRULATUS SCORPIONS

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detection of Tityus serrulatus venom antigen and of horse anti-T. serrulatus venom antibodies were ca rried out before antivenom treatment and at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hr after antivenom therapy in 18 patients with systemic manifestations followin g T. serrulatus scorpion sting. Increased levels of circulating venom antigens were detected in the patients before antivenom treatment, but were no longer detected 1 hr after specific antivenom therapy. High t iters of antivenom persisted for at least 24 hr after treatment with a ntivenom. The evolution of clinical and laboratory manifestations of e nvenoming showed that vomiting and local pain decreased within 1 hr an d hyperglycemia was no longer detected 12 hr after antivenom therapy. The cardiorespiratory manifestations disappeared 6-24 hr after the adm inistration of antivenom and all patients recovered completely. This s tudy demonstrates the efficacy of antivenom therapy in neutralizing ci rculating venom antigens and supports the prompt administration of a p otent antivenom to patients with systemic manifestations of envenoming .