DIC-Like Syndrome after Envenomation by the Snake,<i>Crotalus horridus horridus</i>

Abstract

After envenomation by the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus horridus) a young man showed massive swelling and ecchymoses of the involved extremity, generalized petechiae and a large hematoma of the left upper eyelid. Two weeks later he was completely well. The first blood sample was incoagulable and showed high titers of fibrin split products by the MISFI and staphylococcal clumping tests. Immounoelectrophoresis showed both D and E fragments, but only D was present at 18 hours. The profound thrombocytopenia and hypofibrinogenemia gradually improved, and split products disappeared. In vitro the venom had thrombin-like activity, clotting fibrinogen or plasma and aggregating platelets. These activities could be inhibited by antivenom but not by heparin. There was no evidence that thrombin formation was actually involved: hence, the syndrome is called DIC-like.