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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 56(3), 1997, pp. 291-300
Copyright © 1997 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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First Clinical Experiences with a New Ovine Fab Echis ocellatus Snake Bite Antivenom in Nigeria: Randomized Comparative Trial with Institute Pasteur Serum (Ipser) Africa Antivenom

W. P. Meyer, A. G. Habib, A. A. Onayade, A. Yakubu, D. C. Smith, A. Nasidi, I. J. Daudu, D. A. Warrell AND R. D. G. Theakston
Department of Chemical Pathology, Medical College of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Department of Medicine, Ahmado Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria; Therapeutic Antibodies Inc., Medical College of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, United Kingdom; Federal Ministry of Health and Social Services, Lagos, Nigeria; Ministry of Health Headquarters, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria; Centre for Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom; World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for the Control of Antivenoms and Venom Research Unit, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom

During the past decade, effective snake antivenoms have become scarce in northern Nigeria. As a result, many patients severely envenomed by the saw-scaled or carpet viper (Echis ocellatus), which is responsible for more than 95% of the snake bites in the region, did not receive effective treatment and mortality and morbidity increased. To combat this crisis, a new monospecific ovine Fab antivenom (EchiTabTM) is being developed. Its theoretical advantages over conventional equine F(ab')2 antivenom are a more rapid tissue penetration and larger apparent volume of distribution (the volume of [tissue] fluid in which the the antivenom would be uniformly distributed to achieve the observed plasma concentration). In a preliminary study, two vials (20 ml; 1.0 g of protein) of EchiTab rapidly and permanently restored blood coagulability and cleared venom antigenemia in seven envenomed patients. Four experienced early reactions that responded to epinephrine. In a randomized comparative trial of one vial (10 ml; 0.5 g protein) of EchiTab or four ampules (40 ml; 2.12 g of protein) of Institute Pasteur Serum (Ipser) Africa polyspecific F(ab')2 antivenom, there were fewer reactions, but only 36% and 35% of patients, respectively, showed permanent restoration of coagulability, with the remainder requiring further doses. This suggests that 0.5 g (one vial) of EchiTab is approximately equivalent to 2.12 g (four ampules) of Ipser Africa antivenom, and that a higher initial dose will be required for most patients. Measurements of circulating venom and antivenom levels reflected the clinical events.




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