Treatment of toad venom poisoning with digoxin-specific Fab fragments.

Publication/Presentation Date

11-1-1996

Abstract

Toxicity from toad venom poisoning is similar to digoxin toxicity and carries a high mortality rate. We report on six previously healthy men who developed vomiting and bradycardia after ingesting a purported topical aphrodisiac. Each patient had positive apparent digoxin levels and the first four patients died of cardiac dysrhythmias. The last two patients recovered following treatment with digoxin Fab fragments. We analyzed samples of the purported aphrodisiac and found that it was identical to Chan Su, a Chinese medication made from toad venom. To our knowledge, this is the first reported use of digoxin Fab fragments to treat toad venom poisoning.

Volume

110

Issue

5

First Page

1282

Last Page

1288

ISSN

0012-3692

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

8915235

Department(s)

Department of Emergency Medicine

Document Type

Article

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