ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC, ENZYMATIC AND ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF MYOCARDIAL DAMAGE AFTER TITYUS SERRULATUS SCORPION POISONING

The cardiovascular manifestations after a Tityus serrulatus scorpion sting consist of arterial hypertension or hypotension, heart failure, pulmonary edema, shock and electrocardiographic changes.1 Pulmonary edema evoked by scorpion toxin has been attributed to left ventricular failure induced by the venom or to increased pulmonary vascular permeability produced by vasoactive substances that might be released by the venom.2 The demonstration of myocardial damage and depressed left ventricular systolic function in patients with pulmonary edema following scorpion sting could support the hypothesis that this severe complication is cardiogenic in origin. This report describes results of electrocardiographic, enzymatic and echocardiographic studies in 5 patients with severe envenomation after a Tityus serrulatus scorpion sting. © 1991.