IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR SCORPION ENVENOMING IN BRAZIL

Using the ELISA we have shown that in rats subcutaneously injected wit h Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom there is a fast absorption rate, a fast and high distribution of venom to tissues, a great affinity of th e venom for the tissues and a slow elimination half-life. Because of t hese experimental data, i.v. immunotherapy should be given to patients stung by scorpions as soon as possible after hospital admission. The severity of scorpion envenoming is related to plasma venom concentrati on (ELISA). The high levels of plasma scorpion Venom antigens (ELISA) were cleared 1 h after the infusion of antivenom (5-30 ml of Fab(2) fr agment) and high concentrations of circulating antivenom persisted for at least 24 h, confirming the efficacy of immunotherapy to neutralise circulating venom. Some symptoms (e.g. local pain and vomiting) decre ased 1 h after the starting of immunotherapy, whereas the other sympto ms disappeared from 12-48 h later. Using our tripartite approach of tr eating scorpion envenoming (symptomatic measures, support of vital fun ctions and serotherapy), the mortality rate was very low (0.28%). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.