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Case Reports
. 2012 Mar;86(3):496-8.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0610.

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy in a venomous snake (Bothrops asper) bite victim

Miguel E Delgado  1 , Oscar H Del Brutto
Affiliations
Case Reports

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy in a venomous snake (Bothrops asper) bite victim

Miguel E Delgado et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Mar.

Abstract

An 18-year-old man developed posterior reversible leukoencephalopaty after being bitten by a venomous snake (Bothrops asper). It is possible that this previously unrecognized neurological complication of snake bite envenoming occurred as the result of endothelial dysfunction induced by the venom of the offending snake. This pathogenetic mechanism has also been implicated as the cause of cerebral infarctions in snake bite victims. Alternatively, the leukoencephalopathy might have been a complication of antivenom therapy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Photo taken of the offending snake showing characteristics of B. asper, including its length and the typical X-like dorsal marks.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Contrast-enhanced CT on admission showing bilateral symmetrical hypodense occipital lesions extending up to the frontal lobes.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Normal plain CT performed 6 months after discharge.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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