Citation

Kopec KT, Yen M, Bitner M, Evans CS, Gerardo CJ. Wilderness Environ. Med. 2015; 26(4): 488-490.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC (Dr Kopec); Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (Dr Yen); Division of Emergency Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC (Dr Gerardo).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.wem.2015.07.002

PMID

26432425

Abstract

Compared with other crotaline envenomations, copperhead envenomations have historically been reported as having less severe hematologic venom effects and rarely hemorrhage. We report a case of clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding after a copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) envenomation. A 52-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus was bitten on her right medial ankle after which hypofibrinogenemia and hematochezia developed. The symptoms resolved after repeated administration of Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (ovine) antivenom. She was discharged without further complications 2 days later. Although copperhead envenomations are classically considered less severe than other crotaline envenomations, this case demonstrates the potential of the venom to produce clinically significant hematologic effects.

Language: en