title: [Neurotoxic effects of cobra venom (Naja haje haje) on the neuromuscular junction. Electroclinical study of two cases in Tunisia].
abstract: Two patients were bitten by tunisian cobras (Naja haje haje). A few hours after the bite they developed generalized paralysis which progressed to respiratory paralysis. Electrophysiological features are similar to those of myasthenia gravis and exhibit decremental pattern after stimulation at a frequency of three per second. It is probable that cobra neurotoxins act postsynaptically. The neuromuscular blocking activity of snake-venom can be reversed by intravenous neostigmine.
authors.affiliation: Service d'explorations fonctionnelles, CHU H Bourguiba, Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zouari
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Choyakh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000506:poisoning*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D004546:Elapid Venoms