title: Australian taipan (Oxyuranus spp.) envenoming: clinical effects and potential benefits of early antivenom therapy - Australian Snakebite Project (ASP-25).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Taipans (Oxyuranus spp.) are medically important venomous snakes from Australia and Papua New Guinea. The objective of this study was to describe taipan envenoming in Australian and its response to antivenom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Confirmed taipan bites were recruited from the Australian Snakebite Project. Data were collected prospectively on all snakebites, including patient demographics, bite circumstances, clinical effects, laboratory results, complications and treatment. Blood samples were taken and analysed by venom specific immunoassay to confirm snake species and measure venom concentration pre- and post-antivenom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 40 confirmed taipan bites: median age 41 years (2-85 years), 34 were males and 21 were snake handlers. Systemic envenoming occurred in 33 patients with neurotoxicity (26), complete venom induced consumption coagulopathy (VICC) (16), partial VICC (15), acute kidney injury (13), myotoxicity (11) and thrombocytopenia (7). Venom allergy occurred in seven patients, three of which had no evidence of envenoming and one died. Antivenom was given to 34 patients with a median initial dose of one vial (range 1-4), and a median total dose of two vials (range 1-9). A greater total antivenom dose was associated with VICC, neurotoxicity and acute kidney injury. Early antivenom administration was associated with a decreased frequency of neurotoxicity, acute kidney injury, myotoxicity and intubation. There was a shorter median time to discharge of 51 h (19-432 h) in patients given antivenom <4 h post-bite, compared to 175 h (27-1104 h) in those given antivenom >4 h. Median peak venom concentration in 25 patients with systemic envenoming and a sample available was 8.4 ng/L (1-3212 ng/L). No venom was detected in post-antivenom samples, including 20 patients given one vial initially and five patients bitten by inland taipans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Australian taipan envenoming is characterised by neurotoxicity, myotoxicity, coagulopathy, acute kidney injury and thrombocytopenia. One vial of antivenom binds all measurable venom and early antivenom was associated with a favourable outcome.
authors.affiliation: a Clinical Toxicology Research Group, University of Newcastle , Newcastle , Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: a Clinical Toxicology Research Group, University of Newcastle , Newcastle , Australia.
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: a Clinical Toxicology Research Group, University of Newcastle , Newcastle , Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.affiliation: b Centre for Clinical Research in Emergency Medicine, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Royal Perth Hospital and the University of Western Australia , Perth , Australia.
authors.forename: Simon G A
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: a Clinical Toxicology Research Group, University of Newcastle , Newcastle , Australia.|c Department of Clinical Toxicology and Pharmacology , Calvary Mater Newcastle , Newcastle , Australia.
authors.forename: Geoffrey K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Isbister
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000997:Antivenins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001315:Australia; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D017815:Elapidae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000997:Antivenins; D004546:Elapid Venoms
keywords: Australia; antivenom; envenoming; snakebite; taipan