Envenoming by snake: a patient with liver cirrhosis presenting disruption of hemostatic balance.

BACKGROUND

In most cases of envenoming by the green habu in Taiwan coagulopathy is not observed.

CASE PRESENTATION

Herein, we describe the case of a patient with liver cirrhosis who developed venom-induced consumptive coagulopathy after bite. Laboratory investigation revealed the following: prothrombin time > 100 s (international normalized ratio > 10), activated partial thromboplastin time > 100 s, fibrinogen < 50 mg/dL, and fibrin degradation product > 80 μg/mL. The patient recovered after administration of bivalent hemorrhagic antivenom, vitamin K, fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate.

CONCLUSION

The liver, directly involved in the acute phase reaction, is the main responsible for neutralization of animal toxins. Any patient with history of liver cirrhosis bitten by a venomous snake, even those whose venoms present low risk of coagulopathy, should be very carefully monitored for venom-induced consumptive coagulopathy (VICC), since the hemostatic balance may be disrupted.