[Neurotoxic effects of cobra venom (Naja haje haje) on the neuromuscular junction. Electroclinical study of two cases in Tunisia].

Two patients were bitten by tunisian cobras (Naja haje haje). A few hours after the bite they developed generalized paralysis which progressed to respiratory paralysis. Electrophysiological features are similar to those of myasthenia gravis and exhibit decremental pattern after stimulation at a frequency of three per second. It is probable that cobra neurotoxins act postsynaptically. The neuromuscular blocking activity of snake-venom can be reversed by intravenous neostigmine.