[Effect of reduction in the Bothrops antivenin dose administrated in patients bitten by the Bothrops snake].

Seven hundred and thirty accidents by Bothrops snake bite attended at Hospital Vital Brazil-Instituto Butantan (HVB-IB) were studied: 411 of in 1983/84 (group A) and 319 in 1986 (group B). All the patients were seen in the Hospital 6 hours after the bite. As an average, all the 411 patients of the group A and the 319 patients of the group B received antivenom capable of neutralizing 215 mg and 117 mg of Bothrops jararaca, respectively. Both groups were similar concerning to: sex and age of the patients; anatomic region bitten; frequency of incision and tourniquet use at the site bite; time in between of the accident and the admission at HVB-IB; classification of B. jararaca either young or adult; frequency of the coagulation impairment. There was no difference in the evolution of the local envenoming manifestations and there were no cases of death.