title: Short report: treatment of snake envenomations by a new polyvalent antivenom composed of highly purified F(ab)2: results of a clinical trial in northern Cameroon.
abstract: A clinical trial was conducted in 2 health centers in northern Cameroon to assess the safety and efficacy of a new polyvalent antivenom composed of highly purified and pasteurized F(ab')2 (FAV-Africa). Forty-six patients with objective signs of envenomation, including 67% with hemorrhage, were included in the study. Each patient received at least 20 ml of FAV-Africa by direct, slow intravenous injection; 172 10-ml ampules were administered. All patients were clinically cured after treatment. Two patients (4.3%) showed minor immediate adverse events that may have been related to FAV-Africa (induration, light-headedness); no other treatment-related adverse event occurred. No patient had serum sickness. This trial confirms the safety of FAV-Africa administered by intravenous injection and its efficacy in the treatment of snake envenomations in sub-Saharan Africa.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chippaux
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amadi-Eddine
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fagot
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Le Mener
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002163:Cameroon; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014757:Viper Venoms; D017819:Viperidae
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D014757:Viper Venoms