Introduction
Around 9,000 Americans are treated for snake bites and 5 die each year. Most are bitten by members of the Crotalinae subfamily (a.k.a.
crotalids) of the pit viper family which includes copperheads, water moccasins, and rattlesnakes.
Crotalid envenomation’s can cause broad range of adverse effects, including local tissue, hematologic, and/or systemic effects
including shock and life-threatening bleeding.
Use symptom progression such as swelling beyond 1 major joint or hematologic effects (decreased fibrinogen, thrombocytopenia, or
increased PT) as an indicator for initial or additional doses of antivenom. Identification of the snake can be helpful but should not
determine decision to initiate or continue therapy in place of symptom progression.
Patients can develop delayed or recurrent hematologic symptoms up to a week after treatment cessation, especially following a severe
envenomation.
Clinical Detail
| Parameter | Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab (Ovine) (CroFab®) | Crotalidae Immune F(ab’)2 (Equine) (Anavip®) |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism of Action | Fab fragment of IgG antibody isolated from sheep serum; antibody binds to venom and removes it from tissue | F(ab’)2 fragment of IgG antibody isolated from horse serum; antibody binds to venom and removes it from tissue |
| Dose | Initial Dose • Progressing tissue/hematologic effects: 4 – 6 vials • Systemic effects including shock: 8 – 12 vials – May repeat every hour as needed until initial control of local, hematological, and systemic symptoms is achieved Maintenance: 2 vials q6h x 3 after control is achieved | • Initial dose: 10 vials – May repeat every hour as needed until initial control of local, hematological, and systemic symptoms is achieved Maintenance: 4 vials as needed; may administer for any re-emerging symptoms |
| Administration | • Inject ≥18 mL NS (or SWFI) into each vial; more volume will speed up dissolution • Gently swirl or roll vials in hand or combine all vials in bag to roll simultaneously; DO NOT SHAKE • Add/QS solution to 250 mL bag of NS, administer over 1 hour • NOTE: Many clinicians choose a slower initial rate to allow for assessment of allergic reaction | • Reconstitute each vial with 10 mL NS • Gently swirl or roll vials in hand or combine all vials in bag to roll simultaneously; DO NOT SHAKE • Solution should be clear to yellow/green and opalescent; do not use if otherwise discolored • Add/QS solution to 250 mL bag of NS • Administer total volume over 1 hour • NOTE: Many clinicians choose a slower initial rate to allow for assessment of allergic reaction |
| Formulation | IV only; each box contains 2 vials (~$5000/box) | IV only; each vial costs ~$1220 |
| PK/PD | T½: 12 – 23 hours | T½: ~5.5 days |
| Adverse Effects | • Hypersensitivity reactions ranging from pruritus/urticaria to anaphylaxis • Serum sickness (rare) | • Nausea (23%), arthralgia (11%), peripheral edema (8%) • Hypersensitivity reactions ranging from pruritus/urticaria to anaphylaxis • Serum sickness (rare) |
| Drug Interactions | No known drug interactions | No known drug interactions |
| Compatibility | NS or SWFI for reconstitution; NS for infusion | NS |
| Comments | Approved for treatment of any North American crotalid envenomation | Recently approved for any North American crotalid envenomation |
Evidence
| Author, Year | Design / Sample Size | Intervention & Comparison | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dart RC, 1997 | Prospective, multicenter trial (n = 11) | Patients received 4 vials of CroFab® for initial control of symptoms following minimal or moderate crotalid envenomation | Ten of 11 patients were deemed to have a clinical response and reduction in snakebite severity score; one patient required 4 additional vials |
| Dart RC, 2001 | Multicenter, randomized, prospective, open-label trial (n = 31) | Initial 6 vials of CroFab®; patients were randomized to receive either 2 vials PRN vs 2 vials Q6h x 18 hours | No statistical difference between groups in snakebite severity score; overall severity was reduced from 4.35 to 2.39 (p < 0.001) |
| Boyer LV, 2013 | Phase 2, RCT for rattlesnake bites in Tuscon, AZ (n = 12) | CroFab® vs Anavip® for reduction in serum venom levels at various pre-defined times following crotalid envenomation | Venom levels were insignificantly lower following initial control in the CroFab® group, but significantly lower following maintenance and during follow-up in the Anavip® group (p = 0.004); no difference between groups in safety outcomes |
| Bush SP, 2015 | RCT at 18 sites in the US (n = 123) | CroFab® vs Anavip® for the prevention of late coagulopathy following crotalid envenomation | More patients in the CroFab® group vs the Anavip® group experienced late coagulopathy: 29.7% vs 10.3% (p < 0.05, NNT = 5) |
| Gerardo CJ, 2017 | RCT in 18 EDs in the US (n = 74) | CroFab® versus placebo to measure limb function 14 days after envenomation using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale | CroFab® reduced limb disability measured by the Patient-Specific Functional Scale 14 days after copperhead envenomation: 8.6 in the treatment group vs 7.4 in the control group (95% CI 0.1 – 2.3; p = 0.04) |
| Gerardo CJ, 2020 | Post-hoc analysis (N = 21) | Group 1: Anavip® 10 vials + Anavip® 4 vials q6h x 3; Group 2: Anavip® 10 vials + placebo; Group 3: CroFab® 5 vials + 2 vials q6h x 3 | In copperhead bites (n = 21) there was no difference between Anavip® and CroFab® in time to achieve initial control or patients requiring PRN or unscheduled doses |
Conclusions
Crofab® and Anavip® seem to be comparable for initial symptom control, although due to the longer half-life,
Anavip® may have a larger role in prevention of late-onset or recurrent coagulopathy.
Each health-system will likely need to make a formulary decision on which agent to use. This decision should
be based on which snake species are endemic to that region, preparation time, agent costs, and the
prevalence of recurring coagulopathy in their patient population.
Overview of Evidence
Author, year Design/ sample size
Intervention & Comparison
Outcome
Dart RC,
1997
Prospective, multicenter trial
(n = 11)
Patients received 4 vials of Crofab® for
initial control of symptoms following
minimal or moderate crotalid
envenomation
Ten of 11 patients were deemed to
References
- Bush SP, et al. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2015;53(1):37-45.
- Gerardo CJ, et al. Ann Emerg Med. 2017;70(2):233-244.e3.
- Gerardo CJ, Keyler DE, Rapp-Olsson AM, Schwarz J III, Dart RC. Post Hoc Analysis of the RCT Comparing F(ab’)2 to Fab Antivenom:
Lavonas et al. BMC Emerg Med. 2011;11:2.
Cocchio C, et alAm J Health Syst Pharm. 2020;77(3):175-187.
Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune FAB (Ovine). Lexi-Drugs. Lexicomp. Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Riverwoods, IL. Available
at: http://online.lexi.com. Accessed April 28, 2020.
Crofab® [package insert]. West Conshohocken, PA: BTG International Inc; 2000.
Crotalidae Immune F(ab’)2 (Equine). Lexi-Drugs. Lexicomp. Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Riverwoods, IL. Available at:
http://online.lexi.com. Accessed April 28, 2020.
Anavip® [package insert]. Franklin, TN: Instituto Bioclon, S.A. de C.V.; 2015.
Dart RC, et al. Ann Emerg Med. 1997;30(1):33-9.
Dart RC, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2001;161(16):2030-6.
Boyer LV, et al. Toxicon. 2013;74:101-8.
Control of Venom-Induced Tissue Injury in Copperhead Snakebite Patients. Annals of Emergency Medicine 76(4) Supp:S29Dec;26(4):472-
A short weekly clinical Pearl for acute care pharmacists.
Get the Friday Pearl email
Get a short weekly clinical Pearl for acute care pharmacists. No spam.
Free forever. Unsubscribe anytime. No spam.