Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
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Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Sep 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of antivenom for local effects of green pit viper bites.
Although systemic administration of antivenom can promptly reverse coagulopathy, efficacy on local effects of viper venom remains to be determined. Currently, there has been no proven specific treatment for snakebite patients with severe local effects. This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. ⋯ The plasma venom levels were not different at presentation but lower in the antivenom group 24h after intervention (P = 0.033). These data suggest that intravenous antivenom could accelerate local oedema resolution in humans. However, the degree is not clinically significant, and, therefore, general use is not recommended.