American journal of clinical pathology
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Am. J. Clin. Pathol. · Jan 1981
Case ReportsProlonged defibrination syndrome after green pit viper bite with persisting venom activity in patient's blood.
Venom activity in citrated plasma from a patient with a green pit viper bite was demonstrated by measuring its ability to decrease fibrinogen levels in normal plasma for six days after the bite. By in-vitro study, the minimal amount of crude venom to induce hypofibrinogenemia was 0.5 microgram/ml of normal plasma. ⋯ The most beneficial therapy should therefore be the neutralization of venom by antivenin, for as long as abnormal coagulation profiles are present, to discontinue the defibrinating process. The preparation of potent antivenin must be encouraged.