title: Impact of scorpion stings on electrocardiographic changes and relationship with body oxidant and antioxidant status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate electrocardiogram changes due to scorpion stings and association between oxidative stress index, body oxidant/antioxidant system and the electrocardiogram changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Turkey, between May 2009 and October 2010. It comprised 44 patients admitted to the emergency department for scorpion sting, and a control group of matched age and gender of 20 persons. Electrocardiograms were taken promptly in the most painful phases of the patients. Cardiac parametres were measured. Erythrocyte packages were prepared to detect toxin/antioxidant levels. SPSS 18 was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 44 patients, 22 (50%) were male. Overall average age of the patients was 45.22 +/- 17.99 years. None of the patients required intensive care and none of them had limb losses. Cardiac parametres of the patients in electrocardiogram were higher (p < 0.05). Difference between those with changed electrocardiogram and unchanged electrocardiogram in terms of the values of total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, and oxidative stress index, were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scorpion stings associated with electrocardiogram changes. The mechanism of this relationship is not related with the status of body oxidative stress index and body oxidant and antioxidant capacity. Some parametres warrant further study in terms of potential serious arrhythmias in scorpionism.
authors.forename: Behcet
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yarbil
authors.forename: Suat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zengin
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ercan
authors.forename: Vedat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Davutoglu
authors.forename: Cuma
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yildirim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D065008:Scorpion Stings / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants