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Thrombocytopenia after brown snake envenomation
A C Morling1, L R Marshall, R P Herrmann
1Haematology Department, Royal Perth Hospital, WA.
The Medical Journal of Australia
|December 4, 1989
Summary
Severe brown snakebites can cause dangerous drops in platelet counts, a condition called thrombocytopenia. This finding contrasts with previous beliefs about Australian snakebite outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Hematology
- Herpetology
Background:
- Coagulation disturbances are known complications of severe snake envenomation.
- Thrombocytopenia is often considered rare in Australian snakebite cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sequential platelet counts in patients with severe envenomation by brown snakes (genus Pseudonaja).
- To compare findings with envenomation by tiger snakes.
- To assess the incidence and significance of thrombocytopenia in brown snakebites.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of patient data following severe envenomation.
- Focus on sequential monitoring of platelet counts.
- Comparison of platelet trends between brown snake and tiger snake bite cases.
Main Results:
- Progressive depletion of platelet counts, leading to thrombocytopenia, was observed in nearly half of patients with brown snake envenomation.
- Severe thrombocytopenia occurred in one case.
- This trend of thrombocytopenia was not observed in patients envenomated by tiger snakes.
Conclusions:
- Thrombocytopenia is a significant and common complication of severe brown snake envenomation.
- Findings challenge the widely held view that thrombocytopenia is not an outcome of Australian snakebites.
- Clinicians should consider thrombocytopenia in the management of brown snake envenomation.