Excessive fibrinolysis: the coagulopathy following Merrem's hump-nosed viper (Hypnale hypnale) bites.
In 56 patients with proven hump-nosed viper (Hypnale hypnale) bites, 12 (21.4%) developed continued oozing of blood from the site of the bite and a prolonged clotting time. Further investigations showed low fibrinogen levels and increased fibrinogen degradation products in plamsa. The bleeding time, platelet count, prothrombin time, and partial thromboplastin time with kaolin were normal. The bite of this snake can be complicated with a coagulopathy in which excessive fibrinolysis seems to be the main abnormality.
Premawardena
A P
AP
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka.
Seneviratne
S L
SL
Gunatilake
S B
SB
de Silva
H J
HJ
D000818:Animals; D001760:Bleeding Time; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006801:Humans; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D010976:Platelet Count; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D017819:Viperidae
D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D005340:Fibrinogen