Research on snake bite treatment

 

An anticoagulant may be a new, inexpensive antidote for snake bites, a study suggests.

TOPLINE: Antivenoms available for snake bites are inconsistent in preventing tissue damage and can cost thousands of dollars, so researchers found that the common anticoagulant heparin may be a cheap alternative to treating venomous snake bites and a more successful drug to prevent amputation.
key facts:
Wound infections such as necrosis (the death of body tissue) and cellulitis occur in almost 31% of snakebite cases and can lead to amputations and the loss of limbs.

Antivenoms already on the market are expensive, and their ability to stop necrosis at the site of a snake bite is inconsistent, according to a new study published Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine.

Researchers used CRISPR gene editing, which is a technology that allows scientists to change the DNA of a living organism, to find new methods to block cobra venom from two different snakes: red-spitting cobras and snake cobras. black collar.

According to the study, the team found that heparin, a commonly used anticoagulant, was not only effective in curbing snake venom but was also successful in preventing necrosis.

Because heparin is cheap (it can cost between $20 and $350 per dose), researchers are hopeful that the drug can be "launched relatively quickly to become a cheap, safe, and effective drug for treating cobra stings""once human trials are completed, said the study's lead author, Tian Du, in a statement.

New treatment for snake bites

HOW MUCH DO ANTIVENNOS COST?
The price of antivenoms varies. Researchers found that patients in some states pay between $7,900 and $39,652 per vial of antivenin. CroFab, one of the most popular antidotes in the United States, costs about $3,000 per vial, and initial treatment typically requires four to six vials of the drug.

ARE SNAKE BITES DANGEROUS?
Yes, but some snake bites are more serious than others, according to the Cleveland Clinic. There are two types of snake bites: dry bites and venomous bites. Dry bites are primarily seen in non-venomous snakes and occur when a snake does not release venom in its bite. Venomous bites are dangerous, can be life-threatening, and occur when a snake injects venom into the body. Snakes can regulate the amount of venom injected into the body, as it is a voluntary process. Between 50% and 70% of all venomous snake bites result in envenomation, which is a life-threatening illness caused by toxins in snake venom. Poisoning can cause severe paralysis that prevents breathing, severe tissue damage, kidney failure, and fatal hemorrhages.
BIG NUMBER
5.4 million. That's how many people around the world are bitten by a snake each year, and between 81,420 and 137,880 people die from snake bites each year, according to the World Health Organization.

KEY BACKGROUND
The WHO declared envenomation a neglected tropical disease in 2017 and set a goal of reducing the global burden of snakebite by 50% by 2030. The WHO classifies many cobra species as having category 1 snakebite, which means they require maximum medical attention. due to its extremely dangerous poison. Not all snakes are venomous, 

but because venomous snake bites are considered medical emergencies, they should be treated immediately, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The sooner the antidote is given, the more effective it will be in preventing damage. Other serious side effects that venomous snake bites can cause include disruption of blood vessels, prevention of blood clotting, paralysis or damage to the nervous system, and muscle breakdown.