Chronic kidney failure following lancehead bite envenoming: a clinical report from the Amazon region

Pucca, Manuela BFranco, Michelle V. SMedeiros, Jilvando MOliveira, Isadora SAhmadi, ShirinCerni, Felipe AZottich, UmbertoBassoli, Bruna KMonteiro, Wuelton MLaustsen, Andreas H

Snakebite envenoming can be a life-threatening condition, for which emergency care is essential. The Bothrops (lancehead) genus is responsible for most snakebite-related deaths and permanent loss of function in human victims in Latin America. Bothrops spp. venom is a complex mixture of different proteins that are known to cause local necrosis, coagulopathy, and acute kidney injury. However, the long-term effects of these viper envenomings have remained largely understudied. Case presentation: Here, we present a case report of a 46-years old female patient from Las Claritas, Venezuela, who was envenomed by a snake from the Bothrops genus. The patient was followed for a 10-year period, during which she presented oliguric renal failure, culminating in kidney failure 60 months after the envenoming. Conclusion: In Latin America, especially in Brazil, where there is a high prevalence of Bothrops envenoming, it may be relevant to establish long-term outpatient programs. This would reduce late adverse events, such as chronic kidney disease, and optimize public financial resources by avoiding hemodialysis and consequently kidney transplantation.(AU)

1. Bothrops
2. Chronic kidney disease
3. Long-term effects
4. Renal failure
5. Snakebite