Efficacy and safety of two Antivenoms in the treatment of eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) envenomations in Southeast Texas

Abstract Background There are two Food and Drug Administration–approved antivenoms for the treatment of North American pitviper envenomations: Crotalidae polyvalent immune fab (ovine) (CroFab, henceforth FabAV) and Crotalidae immune F(ab’)2 (equine) (Anavip, henceforth Fab2AV). This study compared t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Spencer Greene, Alexander Teshon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13310
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850212099767140352
author Spencer Greene
Alexander Teshon
author_facet Spencer Greene
Alexander Teshon
author_sort Spencer Greene
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background There are two Food and Drug Administration–approved antivenoms for the treatment of North American pitviper envenomations: Crotalidae polyvalent immune fab (ovine) (CroFab, henceforth FabAV) and Crotalidae immune F(ab’)2 (equine) (Anavip, henceforth Fab2AV). This study compared the effectiveness and safety of the two products in eastern copperhead envenomations. Methods We retrospectively reviewed eastern copperhead bites on which our toxicology service consulted between January 1, 2021 and November 1, 2023. Collected data included patient demographics, bite location, clinical features, antivenom use, response to treatment, and adverse reactions to antivenom. Results There were 134 patients with confirmed copperhead envenomations. We administered antivenom to 89 patients, of which 36 (40%) were female. The median age was 42 years old (range: 2–89 years). Fifty‐nine patients received Fab2AV and 30 were treated with FabAV. Initial control was achieved in 30 (100%) patients treated with FabAV. In the Fab2AV group, 53 (89.8%) achieved control; six patients with acute adverse reactions declined further treatment despite persistent symptoms. The median FabAV dose required for initial control was six vials (range: 4–6). A median dose of 10 vials (range: 10–30) was used in the Fab2AV group. Repeat doses of Fab2AV were required in 15 (25.4%) cases. There were no acute adverse reactions to FabAV. Acute adverse reactions were seen in seven (11.9%) of patients treated with Fab2AV. Conclusion Fewer patients treated with FabAV required repeat antivenom dosing to attain initial control following eastern copperhead envenomation. A higher percentage of patients treated with Fab2AV developed acute adverse reactions.
format Article
id doaj-art-8b7c4602a8cd4c8f8b95722cc22bf3d1
institution OA Journals
issn 2688-1152
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
spelling doaj-art-8b7c4602a8cd4c8f8b95722cc22bf3d12025-08-20T02:09:25ZengElsevierJournal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open2688-11522024-10-0155n/an/a10.1002/emp2.13310Efficacy and safety of two Antivenoms in the treatment of eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) envenomations in Southeast TexasSpencer Greene0Alexander Teshon1University of Houston College of Medicine Houston Texas USAUniversity of Houston College of Medicine Houston Texas USAAbstract Background There are two Food and Drug Administration–approved antivenoms for the treatment of North American pitviper envenomations: Crotalidae polyvalent immune fab (ovine) (CroFab, henceforth FabAV) and Crotalidae immune F(ab’)2 (equine) (Anavip, henceforth Fab2AV). This study compared the effectiveness and safety of the two products in eastern copperhead envenomations. Methods We retrospectively reviewed eastern copperhead bites on which our toxicology service consulted between January 1, 2021 and November 1, 2023. Collected data included patient demographics, bite location, clinical features, antivenom use, response to treatment, and adverse reactions to antivenom. Results There were 134 patients with confirmed copperhead envenomations. We administered antivenom to 89 patients, of which 36 (40%) were female. The median age was 42 years old (range: 2–89 years). Fifty‐nine patients received Fab2AV and 30 were treated with FabAV. Initial control was achieved in 30 (100%) patients treated with FabAV. In the Fab2AV group, 53 (89.8%) achieved control; six patients with acute adverse reactions declined further treatment despite persistent symptoms. The median FabAV dose required for initial control was six vials (range: 4–6). A median dose of 10 vials (range: 10–30) was used in the Fab2AV group. Repeat doses of Fab2AV were required in 15 (25.4%) cases. There were no acute adverse reactions to FabAV. Acute adverse reactions were seen in seven (11.9%) of patients treated with Fab2AV. Conclusion Fewer patients treated with FabAV required repeat antivenom dosing to attain initial control following eastern copperhead envenomation. A higher percentage of patients treated with Fab2AV developed acute adverse reactions.https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13310Agkistrodonantivenomcopperheadenvenomationsnakebite
spellingShingle Spencer Greene
Alexander Teshon
Efficacy and safety of two Antivenoms in the treatment of eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) envenomations in Southeast Texas
Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open
Agkistrodon
antivenom
copperhead
envenomation
snakebite
title Efficacy and safety of two Antivenoms in the treatment of eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) envenomations in Southeast Texas
title_full Efficacy and safety of two Antivenoms in the treatment of eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) envenomations in Southeast Texas
title_fullStr Efficacy and safety of two Antivenoms in the treatment of eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) envenomations in Southeast Texas
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy and safety of two Antivenoms in the treatment of eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) envenomations in Southeast Texas
title_short Efficacy and safety of two Antivenoms in the treatment of eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) envenomations in Southeast Texas
title_sort efficacy and safety of two antivenoms in the treatment of eastern copperhead agkistrodon contortrix envenomations in southeast texas
topic Agkistrodon
antivenom
copperhead
envenomation
snakebite
url https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.13310
work_keys_str_mv AT spencergreene efficacyandsafetyoftwoantivenomsinthetreatmentofeasterncopperheadagkistrodoncontortrixenvenomationsinsoutheasttexas
AT alexanderteshon efficacyandsafetyoftwoantivenomsinthetreatmentofeasterncopperheadagkistrodoncontortrixenvenomationsinsoutheasttexas