Chronic kidney failure following lancehead bite envenoming: a clinical report from the Amazon region

• Published in: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Manuela B. Pucca, Michelle V. S. Franco, Jilvando M. Medeiros, Isadora S. Oliveira, Shirin Ahmadi, Felipe A. Cerni, Umberto Zottich, Bruna K. Bassoli, Wuelton M. Monteiro, Andreas H. Laustsen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SciELO
• Subjects: Bothrops; Snakebite; Long-term effects; Chronic kidney disease; Renal failure; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270; Zoology; QL1-991; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2020-0083; https://doaj.org/article/5f5f335e263d4263983f7cce929c7ccc

Abstract Background: Snakebite envenoming can be a life-threatening condition, for which emergency care is essential. The Bothrops (lancehead) genus is responsible for most snakebite-related deaths and permanent loss of function in human victims in Latin America. Bothrops spp. venom is a complex mixture of different proteins that are known to cause local necrosis, coagulopathy, and acute kidney injury. However, the long-term effects of these viper envenomings have remained largely understudied. Case presentation: Here, we present a case report of a 46-years old female patient from Las Claritas, Venezuela, who was envenomed by a snake from the Bothrops genus. The patient was followed for a 10-year period, during which she presented oliguric renal failure, culminating in kidney failure 60 months after the envenoming. Conclusion: In Latin America, especially in Brazil, where there is a high prevalence of Bothrops envenoming, it may be relevant to establish long-term outpatient programs. This would reduce late adverse events, such as chronic kidney disease, and optimize public financial resources by avoiding hemodialysis and consequently kidney transplantation.