Effects of the Ga-As laser irradiation on myonecrosis caused by Bothrops Moojeni snake venom.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

Viper snake envenoming induces in the victims systemic coagulopathy, and severe local tissue damage such as edema, hemorrhage, intense pain, and myonecrosis. Serumtherapy and other first-aid managements are ineffective in neutralizing these local effects. The effects of the gallium-arsenide (Ga-As) laser irradiation on mice gastrocnemius injected intramuscularly (i.m.) with Bothrops moojeni snake venom were investigated.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Macroscopical, histopatological, and myonecrosis quantification through serum creatine kinase (CK) evaluation was done at 3, 12, and 24 hours (two, five, and eight irradiation sessions, 4 J/cm(2), 1 minute 32 seconds per period, respectively), were done after the venom or saline injection, and in venom-unirradiated mice.

RESULTS

In unirradiated gastrocnemius, the venom induced massive hemorrhage, vascular congestion, time-progressing myonecrosis, edema, abundant inflammatory infiltrate, and high CK serum levels. Ga-As irradiation significantly decreased the amount of myonecrosis in all the periods tested (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The laser treatment significantly inhibited the ability of B. moojeni venom to rapidly disrupt the integrity of the plasma membrane.