A canine study of immunotherapy in scorpion envenomation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of scorpion venom and antivenom in experimental envenomation.


METHODS
Prospective, controlled animal study.


METHODS
University research laboratory


METHODS
Twenty-nine anesthetized and ventilated dogs.


METHODS
The first group of animals had venom alone (0.05 mg/kg). Animals from the second group had simultaneous administration of 10 ml of scorpion antivenom (SAV). In the third and fourth groups, 10 ml and 40 ml SAV, respectively, were injected 10 min following venom.


RESULTS
Hemodynamic parameters using right heart catheter were recorded and dosage of catecholamines, neuropeptide Y (NPY), endothelin-1, and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were performed at baseline and during 60 min following envenomation. In the control group, at 5 min, there was a sharp increase in pulmonary artery occluded pressure (PAOP, from 2 mmHg to 23 mmHg), mean arterial pressure (MAP, from 125 mmHg to 212 mmHg) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR, from 2450 dyn sec(-1 )m(5) to 5775 dyn sec(-1 )m(5), P<0.05 for all). Heart rate, cardiac output, and stroke volume decreased. There was a 40-fold increase in epinephrine and norepinephrine plasma concentrations. Circulating NPY and ANP dosages increased too. PAOP and MAP decreased thereafter to reach baseline levels. Simultaneous administration of SAV with venom totally offset the hallmarks of scorpion envenomation. Delayed administration of SAV at any dosage failed to alter the features of scorpion envenomation.


CONCLUSIONS
While simultaneous administration of SAV and scorpion venom is effective in preventing scorpion envenomation-related manifestations, delayed administration of SAV, either at standard or elevated dosages, failed to alter any of the scorpion envenomation features.
Abroug
Fekri
F
Intensive Care Unit, CHU F Bourguiba, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia. f.abroug@rns.tn.|Unité de Recherche (99/UR/088-59), Faculté de Médecine, Monastir, Tunisia. f.abroug@rns.tn.
Nouira
Semir
S
Intensive Care Unit, CHU F Bourguiba, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia.|Unité de Recherche (99/UR/088-59), Faculté de Médecine, Monastir, Tunisia.
El Atrous
Souheil
S
Unité de Recherche (99/UR/088-59), Faculté de Médecine, Monastir, Tunisia.
Besbes
Lamia
L
Intensive Care Unit, CHU F Bourguiba, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia.|Unité de Recherche (99/UR/088-59), Faculté de Médecine, Monastir, Tunisia.
Boukef
Riadh
R
Intensive Care Unit, CHU F Bourguiba, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia.|Unité de Recherche (99/UR/088-59), Faculté de Médecine, Monastir, Tunisia.
Boussarsar
Mohamed
M
Intensive Care Unit, CHU F Bourguiba, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia.|Unité de Recherche (99/UR/088-59), Faculté de Médecine, Monastir, Tunisia.
Marghli
Soudani
S
Intensive Care Unit, CHU F Bourguiba, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia.|Unité de Recherche (99/UR/088-59), Faculté de Médecine, Monastir, Tunisia.
Eurin
Joëlle
J
Laboratoire de Biochimie, Upres 1390 CHU, Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Barthelemy
Christiane
C
Laboratoire de Biochimie, Upres 1390 CHU, Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
El Ayeb
Mohamed
M
Institut Pasteur, Tunis, Tunisia.
Dellagi
Koussay
K
Institut Pasteur, Tunis, Tunisia.
Carayon
Alain
A
Laboratoire de Biochimie, Upres 1390 CHU, Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D004285:Dogs; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*; D001098:Spider Bites / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*
D000997:Antivenins; D002395:Catecholamines; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D012604:Scorpion Venoms