Description

Noutsos et al reported criteria for snakebite-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). The authors are from the University of Newcastle, Charles Darwin University, and University of Western Australia.


Patient selection: snakebite (in Australia taipan, brown and tiger snakes plus others)

 

Mechanism: DIC (venom-induced consumption coagulopathy, VICC)

 

Criteria for snakebite-associated thrombotic microangiopathy:

(1) recent snakebite

(2) anemia with schistocytosis

(3) thrombocytopenia or 25% drop in platelet count

(4) no other explanation

 

Complications:

(1) acute kidney injury

(2) risk of long-term kidney disease

 

The authors did not notice benefit from therapeutic plasma exchange.


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