Envenomation Coagulopathy in Wounds from Pit Vipers

Authors:
  • TSToby L. Simon
    Toby L. Simon
  • TGThomas G. Grace
    Thomas G. Grace
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Abstract
ACOAGULOPATHY often accompanies the tissue hemorrhage and necrosis of pit-viper wounds.1 , 2 Since this bleeding diathesis, which is frequently present when death occurs, may represent a model of consumption coagulopathy triggered by a biologic substance, we investigated the effect of the venom of one pit viper (the western diamondback rattlesnake) on serial changes in the platelet count, fibrinogen, and fibrinogen-fibrin degradation products (FDPs), on survival of 51Cr-labeled platelets in the circulation, and on accumulation of 51Cr-labeled platelets at the site of injury in a previously described rabbit model.1 We found an initial decrease and a subsequent increase in platelet count and . . .

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