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Clinical Serum Therapy: Benefits, Cautions, and Potential Applications
Toru Hifumi1, Akihiko Yamamoto2, Manabu Ato3
1Emergency Medical Center, Kagawa University Hospital, Kagawa, Japan.
The Keio Journal of Medicine
|April 29, 2017
Summary
Serum therapy, using antibodies from immunized sources, remains a vital treatment for various conditions like diphtheria and snakebites. This review clarifies its benefits and cautions for modern clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Medical History
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Serum therapy utilizes antibodies from immunized humans or animals to treat diseases and envenomations.
- Its efficacy was established in 1890 for diphtheria and tetanus, significantly advancing early medicine before antibiotics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the benefits, cautions, and applications of serum therapy.
- To provide clinicians with a better understanding of this historical and current medical treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical and clinical data on serum therapy.
- Analysis of applications for specific conditions including gas gangrene, diphtheria, botulism, tetanus, and venomous bites.
Main Results:
- Serum therapy remains clinically relevant for specific infectious diseases and envenomations.
- Identified conditions include gas gangrene, diphtheria, botulism, tetanus, and bites from mamushi, habu, yamakagashi snakes, and redback spiders.
Conclusions:
- Serum therapy offers significant benefits but requires careful consideration of its application and potential risks.
- Enhanced clinician understanding of serum therapy can optimize its use in modern medicine.
