THE SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE SYNDROME RELATED TO THE RELEASE OF CYTOKINES FOLLOWING SEVERE ENVENOMATION

E. VORONOV(1), R. N. APTE(1), S. SOFER(2)

(1)Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and (2)Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Division of Pediatrics, Soroka Medical Center and the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

ABSTRACT: Envenomation by insects, snakes, scorpions, and spiders involves the activation of the inflammatory system with the release and activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemotactic mediators, cellular infiltration, and other vasoactive mediators. Activation of the inflammatory system and its cascade of events play a major role in the pathogenesis of envenomation, its clinical picture, and outcome. Additional clinical and laboratory studies are required to characterize the exact mechanisms by which the inflammatory system affects the pathophysiology, clinical course, and complications following envenomations. A better understanding of the involvement of the inflammatory cascade in different envenoming syndromes may have future therapeutic benefits.

KEY WORDS: Systemic inflammatory response, cytokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemotactic mediators, vasoactive mediators.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

S. SOFER - M.D., Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Division of Pediatrics, Soroka Medical Center, Beer-Sheva P.O.B 151, Israel, 84101