title: Aspirin plus tirofiban inhibit the thrombosis induced by Russell's viper venom.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thrombosis and coagulopathy are the commonest hematological manifestations of envenomation of Russell's viper venom (RVV). Factor X is activated by a factor X-activating enzyme from Russell's viper venom (RVV-X) to start the coagulation cascade. We established an animal model with local ischemic effects induced by RVV. We tried to treat RVV envenomation with antiplatelets and anticoagulants without recourse to antivenom.
  
  
  METHODS
  RVV was injected into the foot pad of mice. We observed the effects at different intervals and compared local changes in ischemia with drug treatment after 30 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A combination of aspirin plus tirofiban could prevent the ischemic change induced by RVV. The antithrombotic effects of single-use of aspirin or tirofiban were better than single-use of heparin or clopidogrel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The aspirin + tirofiban group had a better outcome with respect to prevention of tissue ischemia and gangrene. This indicates that the activation and aggregation of platelets is the major cause of thrombosis induced by RVV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Tzu Chi Medical Center, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ren-Chieh
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Diagnosis, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ping-Tse
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Tzu Chi Medical Center, Hualien, Taiwan ; Department of Laboratory Diagnosis, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan ; Branch of Clinical Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tzu Chi Medical Center, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Kuang
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Antiplatelet; Mouse model; Russell’s viper venom; Thrombosis