Efeitos de Diferentes Antivenenos sobre a Função Hepática em Ratos Wistar

Abstract

Introduction: Snakebites in some countries are among the 10 leading causes of death and heterologous antivenom is the only effective treatment for over 100 years. However, problems in its production and control until now have not been fully resolved and early and late adverse reactions are common serotherapy. In most case reports, clinical and laboratory findings are related to the subject that had been chopped and received antivenom, so there is the question whether the changes are related only to the action of the venom and also the action of the serum. Studies report evidence that excessive amounts of antivenom are in use, resulting in a high incidence of reactions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different antivenoms on liver function in Wistar rats. One hundred and fifty animals were distributed in five groups as follows: group 1 (G1) - received anticrotalic serum for human use; group 2 (G2) - antivenom for human use; group 3 (G3) - serum antibothropic-crotalic for human use; group 4 (G4) - serum antibothropic-crotalic for veterinary use; group 5 (G5 control) - received saline. Serum dosage of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gammaglutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase and liver histopathology with 2, 8 and 24 hours was performed. The statistical analyzes were performed using analysis of variance with contrasts using the Tukey method, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis. The level of significance was 5%. Results: In the groups treated with antivenom, we observed increased alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase, no change in aspartate aminotransferase and gammaglutamyltransferase, and congestion, decreased glycogen, vacuolar degeneration, Kupffer cell hyperplasia and centrilobular necrosis in the histopathological analysis. Conclusions: The antivenom used in this assay when administered intraperitoneally, caused hepatic changes in Wistar rats, suggesting new studies related to adequacy in conduct as the dose of serum to be used in snakebite, need to produce higher quality sera and greater safety for patients.