[Fatal poisoning caused by African viper's bite (Echis carinatus)]

Abstract

The case is reported of a 44-year-old European who was bitten on the foot in Djibouti, probably by an African viper. Unusually, there wasn't any pain, nor any cardiovascular collapse nor any local swelling. An oedema of the lower limb started the day afterwards. Two days after the bite, the patient presented a generalized haemorrhagic syndrome, which led to his admission. There was a consumption of fibrinogen and prothrombin, without any decrease in the platelet count. Heparin was started (100 IU.kg-1.day-1), as well as fluid replacement (albumin, fresh frozen plasma, packed red cells). This allowed him to be transferred to France, where he arrived in anuria, with hyperpyrexia, and severe lower limb oedema and a haemorrhagic syndrome. There was a major extensive retroperitoneal haematoma spreading to the perineum. The four limbs were ischaemic. The patient's condition continued to worsen, developing hypoxic pulmonary oedema. He died on the seventh day after the bite, during a session of haemodialysis, from cardiovascular failure resistant to all the usual drugs. The principles of anti-venom therapy are recalled. Indeed, this should be started early enough and relies on large amounts of serum (greater than 50 ml).