Antivenom ineffectiveness in Echis carinatus sochureki envenoming: a five-year, single-centre experience from India

Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality in India. In this study, we describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Echis carinatus sochureki envenoming from Western Rajasthan. We document the clinical ineffectiveness of the currently available Indian polyvalent antivenom in managing E. c. sochureki envenoming.

In this ambispective study, conducted from 14 April 2019 to 15 April 2024, we enrolled all patients presenting to our emergency department at a tertiary care centre in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, with a history of snakebite. After they provided informed consent, the demographic details, bite geo-location, bite-to-antivenom time, antivenom dose, coagulation profile, mortality and duration of hospital stay of those patients with E. c. sochureki envenoming were recorded.

Of 210 patients screened, 105 had E. c. sochureki envenoming, 103 venom-induced consumption coagulopathy, 36 (34.3%) local bleeding and 55 (52.3%) systemic bleeding. The median bite-to-antivenom time was 2 (IQR: 1.13-4.0) h. The median antivenom dose was 22 (IQR: 10-30) vials. Of 92 patients who received antivenom, 63 (68.4%) were unresponsive. Total antivenom dose and geographical location (West zone) were significant predictors of antivenom unresponsiveness. Fifty-three of 70 patients (75.7%) had delayed hypofibrinogenaemia. The mean hospital stay was 8.3±7.1 d with nine (8.6%) mortalities.

Our study highlights the alarming finding of poor antivenom response to E. c. sochureki envenoming, with significant clinical bleeding and delayed coagulopathy. There is an urgent need for region-specific antivenom in Western India.