Envenoming by European vipers antivenom treatment--influence on morbidity.

The incidence of venomous viper bites in Europe is difficult to assess. Mortality after bites by European vipers is nowadays low, but morbidity is by no means negligible. Serious and life-threatening reactions occur, especially in small children and elderly people. The critically ill can nowadays be managed with symptomatic and supportive care in an astonishing way, but antivenom treatment may reduce the extent of such treatment and also reduced the overall risk for the patient. In particular, the only way to prevent extensive swelling and related complications is to give antivenom. The aim of this study was to test efficacy and safety of ovine Fab (a new specific ovine Fab fragments against various snake venoms) as an alternative to equine F(ab)2 antibodies in patients presenting with moderate and severe envenoming.