Chippaux Jean-Philippe, Goyffon M. (1998). Venoms, antivenoms and immunotherapy. Toxicon, 36 (6), p. 823-846. ISSN 0041-0101.
Titre du document
Venoms, antivenoms and immunotherapy
Année de publication
1998
Type de document
Article
Auteurs
Chippaux Jean-Philippe, Goyffon M.
Source
Toxicon, 1998,
36 (6), p. 823-846 ISSN 0041-0101
A century after the discovery of antivenom and despite real progress undertaken in its manufacture, its use remains largely empirical. Recent studies of pharmacokinetics of envenoming permitted improved understanding of immunotherapy. Improved purification of the antivenom by using immunoglobulin fragments has lead to increased tolerance and efficiency of antivenom. The respective advantages and disadvantages of F(ab')2 and F(ab) are discussed in relation to neutralising efficacy and clearance from the circulation. Although the time during which the action of antivenom remains beneficial after the bite is unknown, the superiority of intravenous administration has now been proved. Although immunisation procedures and purification and use of IgG fragments can be improved using modern technology, the future of immunotherapy seems promising. It is vital that therapeutic protocols should be rigidly adhered to in order to optimise immunotherapy. The use of vaccination has yet to be explored.
