Thrombotic microangiopathy due to Bothrops erythromelas: a case report in Northeast Brazil

ABSTRACT

Bothrops erythromelas are serpents that belong to the Viperidae family, which are the main species responsible for human snakebites in Ceara State, Northeast Brazil. Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is an uncommon group of disorders characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA), thrombocytopenia and acute kidney injury (AKI), and occurrence after snakebites have been rarely reported. In this report, we described the case of a 57 year-old-man without comorbidities who was bitten by a Bothrops erythromelas on his right ankle. He presented with pain, edema and local bleeding. Symptomatology and laboratory tests were compatible with the diagnosis of TMA. He received specific antivenom and fluids replacement without any anaphylactic reaction. The conservative treatment was effective and there was no need for red blood cells transfusion or plasmapheresis. The aim of this report was to describe the first case of thrombotic microangiopathy following Bothrops erythromelas envenoming in the Northeast Brazil, providing insights about important mechanistic pathways of Bothrops snakebite-associated TMA and how to change the prognosis of the disease.

INTRODUCTION

Snakebite-related Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TMA) is characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and acute kidney injury (AKI)¹. Studies described TMA due to Viperidae bites by Daboia russelli (Russell’s vipers) in India and in Sri Lanka, Cerastes cerastes in Europe, Proatheris superciliares in the United States of America, Bothrops lanceolatus in Martinique², and only three cases following Bothrops jararaca envenomation in Southeastern Brazil^2,3. AKI associated with TMA has not been described in Bothrops envenomation in Northeast Brazil.

Thrombotic microangiopathy is associated with significant morbidity and mortality⁴. The knowledge on the prevalence of TMA in Bothrops envenomation, as well as the early diagnosis of this syndrome is essential for the prompt initiation of supportive and specific management to decrease adverse outcomes such as AKI, chronic kidney disease, hemorrhage and death^5,6.

The aim of this study was to report the first case of thrombotic microangiopathy and AKI following Bothrops erythromelas snakebite envenomation (Viperidae family) in the Northeast of Brazil, highlighting current studies under a perspective of clinical applications. Although other snakebites are associated with the development of TMA, this pathophysiology remains poorly understood.

CASE REPORT

A 57-year-old man without previous comorbidities was bitten by a Bothrops erythromelas on his right ankle. He killed the snake and applied a tourniquet above the snakebite and attempted to extract the venom, a popular traditional treatment of snakebites in the locality where he lives. He was transferred to the Poison Control Center in the Instituto Doutor Jose Frota, a tertiary hospital in Fortaleza city, Ceara State, Northeast of Brazil. He was admitted 5 h after the snakebite and brought the snake, permitting its identification (Figure 1). On admission the patient presented with local pain, swelling and bleeding at the punctured site. Blood was collected and the laboratory findings were analyzed periodically (Table 1).

Figure 1. Bothrops erythromelas (source: provided by the Poison Control Center in the Instituto Dr. Jose Frota, Ceara. The photograph is from the collection of the institution).

Table 1. Laboratory parameters of the patient during hospital stay and after discharge.

Parameters	Day after bite
	D1 (6h pb)	D1 (13h pb)	D2	D3	D4	D5	D6	D7	D8	D12 (after discharge)
Hemoglobin (RV:13,5- 17g/dL)	14.4	14	11.3	10.9	10.1	10.1	9.7	10.2		11.1
Hematocrit (RV: 39-50%)	43	41.9	34	32.5	31.1	29.9	29	29.6		32.7
Fragmented red blood cells (blood film)	-	-	-	Present	Present	-	-	-
White blood cells (RV:3.600- 10.000/µL)	15,300	14,030	14,520	11,750	10,210	10,470	12,370	13,800		13,050
Platelets (x103/mm3) (RV:150.000-450.000/mm3)	229	194	74	34	31	55	131	191		674
PT (RV: <14 seg)	n/c*	15.1	10.9		11.3	10.9	10.9
INR (RV: <1,2)	-	1.39	1		1.04	1	1
aPTT (RV: < 28 seg)	n/c*	32.4	26.6		25.6	26.4	26.6
Urea (RV: 13-43mg/dL)	46	68	124	155	166	151	122	107	85	79
Creatinine (RV: 0,7 -1,3 mg/dL)	1.6	2.9	4.8	5.4	5.1	4.4	3.0	2.8	2.5	1.8
Glicose (RV: 70-99 mg/dL)	95						153	73
Sodium (RV: 135 – 148 mmol/L)	139		134	138	141	132	139	138	140
Potassium (RV: 3,5 – 5,3 mEq/L)	4.26		5.01	4.4	4.38	4.3	4.9	4.13	4.96	5.6
CPK (RV: < 195U/L)	312	975		2478	2025	974		239		151
LDH (RV: 230-460U/L)			1502	3805	3071	2016	1392	1358
Total bilirrubin (RV: ≤ 1,0 mg/dL)				1.4	0.8	0.57	0.5	0.4
Indirect bilirrubin (RV: ≤ 0,8 mg/dL)				1.0	0.5	0.35	0.3	0.2
Alanineaminotransferase (RV: < 41U/L)	35					39	47	49
Aspartateaminotransferase (RV: < 38U/L)	41					30	31	22
Hematuria				+++	+
Proteinuria				+	Traces
UrinaryCasts				Granular and Waxy	Hyaline

n/c = non clot; pb = post-bite

Laboratory features upon admission revealed a very prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), i.e., blood was uncoagulable, the platelets count wad normal and serum creatinine was slightly elevated (1.6 mg/dL; RV< 1.3 mg/dL). Four vials of specific antivenom (Anti Bothropic Serum – a polyvalent serum of equine origin, F(ab)₂, against Bothrops species, 10 mL/vial, manufactured by Instituto Butantan, Sao Paulo, Brazil) were administered without any anaphylactic reaction. However, the patient evolved with increasing serum creatinine (sCr) levels (2.9 mg/dL; RV < 1.3 mg/dL) and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was decreasing (eGFR 23 mL/min/1.73m²; RV > 60 mL/min/1.73m²). Therefore, antivenom therapy was reinforced with 8 more vials, completing the protocol for a severe accident. On the following days, he presented AKI (sCre 5.4 mg/dL; eGFR 12.5 mL/min/1.73m²), thrombocytopenia (31.000/mm³; RV: 150.000-450.000/mm³), anemia (hemoglobin 10.1 g/dL; RV: 13.5-17 g/dL), normal coagulation assays, presence of hemoglobin, protein and waxy casts in the urine, slight increase in serum indirect bilirubin levels ( /dL; RV≤ 0.8mg/dL), lactate dehydrogenase elevation (LDH=3,805 U/L; RV: 230-460 U/L) and presence of schizocytes in peripheral blood (Figure 2). From the sixth dayof hospitalization, the patient exhibited significant improvement. Renal replacement therapy and plasmapheresis were not required, and the patient was discharged with a partial recovery of renal function on the eighth day after the snakebite (sCr 2.5 mg/dL; eGFR 31.8 mL/min/1.73 m²). Four days after hospital discharge, days he returned to the hospital and underwent further laboratory tests that showed improvement in renal function (sCr 1.8 mg/dL; eGFR 47.4 mL/min/1.73 m²).

Figure 2. Presence of schizocytes in peripheral blood.

DISCUSSION

The exact mechanism of TMA in snakebites remains unknown. However, it is believed that toxins in the venom may be the cause of endothelial damage⁷ and fibrin microthrombi deposition that result in TMA. Bothrops erythromelas venom presents no thrombin-like activity. The activity of this venom in the coagulation was attributed to a marked presence of prothrombin and activators of the factor X that lead to the formation of endogenous thrombin^8,9. This venom contain toxins, such as serine proteinases, metalloproteinases (SVMPs), disintegrins and C-type lectin-like molecules. These venom components act on coagulation and fibrinolysis, on micro vessels and affect the platelet aggregation⁹. A proteomic study of B. erythromelas pointed to a predominance of SVMPs, P-III class, with Berythractivase the only P-III SVMP characterized from B. erythromelas venom⁹. Berythractivase, is a non-hemorrhagic metalloproteinases and a potent activator of prothrombin that is capable of increasing the incidence of systemic bleeding due to the triggering of endothelial proinflammatory and procoagulant cell responses^3,9.

The thrombotic microangiopathy presented a clinical picture similar to the one of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)², i.e., AKI, thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA). Although many studies have reported the relationship between TMA and the venom-induced consumption coagulopathy (VICC), TMA in snakebite may occur without VICC^10,11. VICC is characterized by prolonged clotting times caused by activation of the coagulation cascade by prothrombin, thrombin-like enzymes and factor X activators present in the venom^2,12, which resolves after the toxins neutralization. There are controversies about the treatment of TMA associated with snakebite envenoming. Supportive care, antivenom administration, hemodialysis, and plasma exchange have been reported in the management of snakebite-induced TMA². Usually, TMA associated with VICC appears to resolve with antivenom only, once the snake venom toxins are neutralized¹¹.

Thrombocytopenia together with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia is enough for the diagnosis of TMA¹³and it is caused by snake venom toxins, such as snake venom C-type lectins (Snaclecs)^9,14 being abundant in B. erythromelas ⁹. This class of protein inhibits or activates platelets by binding to receptors such as collagens or the von Willebrand factor (VWF). However, platelets activation is the most efficient way for snake venom to reduce platelets function by removing them from circulation, leading tothrombocytopenia¹⁴. The current case developed thrombocytopenia with the lowest platelets count in a delayed phase, after the second day post-bite.

Bothrops erythromelas venom presents the highest levels of factor X (FX) and prothrombin activators without showing a thrombin-like activity in comparison with other Bothrops venoms⁸. In the current study, the patient showed some evidence of coagulopathy (uncoagulable PT and aPTT). However, the coagulation profiles improved within 24 hours after antivenom therapy confirming VICC¹¹.

The markers of microvascular hemolysis with anemia following snakebite envenomation are not specific¹³. MAHA was reported in two tiger snake envenomations that evolved with anemia, increased lactate dehydrogenase levels, increased serum indirect bilirubin levels, and fragmented red blood cells (schizocytes) in blood smears¹⁵. Similarly, this case presented with laboratory abnormalities suggesting MAHA.

The mechanistic pathway of acute kidney injury due to snakebite-associated thrombotic microangiopathy is fibrin microthrombi deposition, suggested by histological analyses reported in literature^7,16-18. Our patient developed rapidly and progressive AKI in the first 12 hours post-bite with increasing serum creatinine levels and decreasing estimated glomerular filtration rates. Other mechanisms of AKI in snakebite are both, the direct action of venom on the kidney and inflammatory effects due to the release of various endogenous cytokines and mediators¹⁹.

Plasma exchange and renal replacement treatment (RRT) after adequate antivenom administration are the main proposed treatments for TMA following snakebites^13,18. Plasmapheresis is a nonspecific treatment used in many toxicological disorders to rapidly remove toxins from the circulation. However, the effectiveness of this therapy in the treatment of snakebite-induced TMA is still uncertain¹³. RRT should be initiated when life-threatening changes in the fluid, electrolytes and acid-base balance are unresponsive to current medical therapy. In this study, the patient received only specific antivenom and had a favorable outcome without the the need of other therapies.

CONCLUSION

This report describes the first confirmed case of B. erythromelas bite in Northeast Brazil that evolved to TMA. The conservative treatment was effective, and there was no need for red blood cell transfusion and plasmapheresis. The severe AKI following TMA evolved with partial recovery of the renal function. The possibility of chronic kidney disease requires the follow-up of these patients and further studies.