Clinical experience with heterologous serum products

• Main Authors: O. V. Perelygina, E. I. Komarovskaya, A. V. Mukhacheva, L. V. Sayapina, Yu. I. Obukhov, V. P. Bondarev
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. Federal State Budgetary Institution «Scientific Centre for Expert Evaluation of Medicinal Products» 2018-02-01
• Series: Биопрепараты: Профилактика, диагностика, лечение
• Subjects: гипериммунные сыворотки; гетерологичные иммуноглобулины; антитоксические сыворотки; антивеном; антитоксин; токсикоинфекция; дифтерия; ботулизм; столбняк; газовая гангрена; укус змеи; hyperimmune serum; heterologous immunoglobulins; antitoxic serum; antivenom; antitoxin; toxic infection; diphtheria; tetanus; gas gangrene; snake bite
• Online Access: https://www.biopreparations.ru/jour/article/view/80

The article contains data on the use of heterologous serum products in the treatment of some infectious diseases and snake bites. Despite achievements of preventive vaccination there are still cases of diphtheria and tetanus registered annually all over the world. Cases of botulism and gas gangrene are not uncommon either. There is also an important problem of snake bites treatment. Heterologous serum is mainly derived from the blood of horses immunized with bacterial anatoxins or toxins (snake venoms). They are included into the Russian List of Vital and Essential Medicines and in the WHO Essential Medicines List. Antivenoms are the only effective antidotes for the bites of venomous snakes, spiders, and scorpions. However, despite a self-evident demand in such products, there is a lack of antitoxic serum caused by the phasing out of its production in some countries, its low economic efficiency and stringent regulatory requirements for the safe production of blood products.