Pharmacological approaches that slow lymphatic flow as a snakebite first aid.
BACKGROUND: This study examines the use of topical pharmacological agents as a snakebite first aid where slowing venom reaching the circulation prevents systemic toxicity. It is based on the fact that toxin molecules in most snake venoms are large molecules and generally first enter and traverse the...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:fe85e4391cc043129470912a7e7c9ce8 2023-05-15T15:14:20+02:00 Pharmacological approaches that slow lymphatic flow as a snakebite first aid. Dirk F van Helden Paul A Thomas Peter J Dosen Mohammad S Imtiaz Derek R Laver Geoffrey K Isbister 2014-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002722 https://doaj.org/article/fe85e4391cc043129470912a7e7c9ce8 EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3937289?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002722 https://doaj.org/article/fe85e4391cc043129470912a7e7c9ce8 PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 8, Iss 2, p e2722 (2014) Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 article 2014 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002722 2022-12-31T01:45:13Z BACKGROUND: This study examines the use of topical pharmacological agents as a snakebite first aid where slowing venom reaching the circulation prevents systemic toxicity. It is based on the fact that toxin molecules in most snake venoms are large molecules and generally first enter and traverse the lymphatic system before accessing the circulation. It follows on from a previous study where it was shown that topical application of a nitric oxide donor slowed lymph flow to a similar extent in humans and rats as well as increased the time to respiratory arrest for subcutaneous injection of an elapid venom (Pseudonaja textilis, Ptx; Eastern brown snake) into the hind feet of anaesthetized rats. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The effects of topical application of the L-type Ca(2+) channel antagonist nifedipine and the local anesthetic lignocaine in inhibiting lymph flow and protecting against envenomation was examined in an anaesthetized rat model. The agents significantly increased dye-measured lymph transit times by 500% and 390% compared to controls and increased the time to respiratory arrest to foot injection of a lethal dose of Ptx venom by 60% and 40% respectively. The study also examined the effect of Ptx venom dose over the lethal range of 0.4 to 1.5 mg/kg finding a negative linear relationship between increase in venom dose and time to respiratory arrest. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The findings suggest that a range of agents that inhibit lymphatic flow could potentially be used as an adjunct treatment to pressure bandaging with immobilization (PBI) in snakebite first aid. This is important given that PBI (a snakebite first aid recommended by the Australian National Health and Medical research Council) is often incorrectly applied. The use of a local anesthetic would have the added advantage of reducing pain. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 8 2 e2722 |
institution |
Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Dirk F van Helden Paul A Thomas Peter J Dosen Mohammad S Imtiaz Derek R Laver Geoffrey K Isbister Pharmacological approaches that slow lymphatic flow as a snakebite first aid. |
topic_facet |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
description |
BACKGROUND: This study examines the use of topical pharmacological agents as a snakebite first aid where slowing venom reaching the circulation prevents systemic toxicity. It is based on the fact that toxin molecules in most snake venoms are large molecules and generally first enter and traverse the lymphatic system before accessing the circulation. It follows on from a previous study where it was shown that topical application of a nitric oxide donor slowed lymph flow to a similar extent in humans and rats as well as increased the time to respiratory arrest for subcutaneous injection of an elapid venom (Pseudonaja textilis, Ptx; Eastern brown snake) into the hind feet of anaesthetized rats. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The effects of topical application of the L-type Ca(2+) channel antagonist nifedipine and the local anesthetic lignocaine in inhibiting lymph flow and protecting against envenomation was examined in an anaesthetized rat model. The agents significantly increased dye-measured lymph transit times by 500% and 390% compared to controls and increased the time to respiratory arrest to foot injection of a lethal dose of Ptx venom by 60% and 40% respectively. The study also examined the effect of Ptx venom dose over the lethal range of 0.4 to 1.5 mg/kg finding a negative linear relationship between increase in venom dose and time to respiratory arrest. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The findings suggest that a range of agents that inhibit lymphatic flow could potentially be used as an adjunct treatment to pressure bandaging with immobilization (PBI) in snakebite first aid. This is important given that PBI (a snakebite first aid recommended by the Australian National Health and Medical research Council) is often incorrectly applied. The use of a local anesthetic would have the added advantage of reducing pain. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Dirk F van Helden Paul A Thomas Peter J Dosen Mohammad S Imtiaz Derek R Laver Geoffrey K Isbister |
author_facet |
Dirk F van Helden Paul A Thomas Peter J Dosen Mohammad S Imtiaz Derek R Laver Geoffrey K Isbister |
author_sort |
Dirk F van Helden |
title |
Pharmacological approaches that slow lymphatic flow as a snakebite first aid. |
title_short |
Pharmacological approaches that slow lymphatic flow as a snakebite first aid. |
title_full |
Pharmacological approaches that slow lymphatic flow as a snakebite first aid. |
title_fullStr |
Pharmacological approaches that slow lymphatic flow as a snakebite first aid. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Pharmacological approaches that slow lymphatic flow as a snakebite first aid. |
title_sort |
pharmacological approaches that slow lymphatic flow as a snakebite first aid. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002722 https://doaj.org/article/fe85e4391cc043129470912a7e7c9ce8 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 8, Iss 2, p e2722 (2014) |
op_relation |
http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3937289?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0002722 https://doaj.org/article/fe85e4391cc043129470912a7e7c9ce8 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002722 |
container_title |
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
container_volume |
8 |
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2 |
container_start_page |
e2722 |
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