Биопрепараты: Профилактика, диагностика, лечение (Feb 2018)
Clinical experience with heterologous serum products
Abstract
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.
