Some Vasoactive Mediators in Scorpion Envenomation of Children | ||||
| Bulletin of Egyptian Society for Physiological Sciences | ||||
| Article 23, Volume 27, Issue 1, June 2007, Page 363-380 PDF (115.33 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/besps.2007.37174 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
| Ramadan Sayed* 1; Zeinab Mohey2; Abdel-Raheim Abdel-Hafeez1; Ahmad Nassar1; Hussein Hussein3 | ||||
| 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University | ||||
| 2Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University | ||||
| 3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Scorpion envenomation in children is potentially fatal condition. Scorpion envenoming cause an autonomic storm resulting in a massive release of catecholamines, angiotensin II, glucagon and cortisol. As a consequance of these changes, scorpion envenoming result in a syndrome of fuel energy deficits, producing multi-system-organ failure and death. The objective of the present study was to determine circulating levels of adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin II, kallikrein, nitric oxide (NO), aldosterone as well as Na+, K+ and Ca+2 in scorpion envenomed children. The relationship between these vasoactive mediators and the severity of scorpion envenomation and the outcome of envenomed children would be evaluated. The present study included 40 scorpion envenomed children of both sexes and their age ranged 1-13 years. According to the severity of envenomation, they were divided into 2 groups, mild and severe. 10 apparently healthy children were considered as control group. All of them were subjected to complete clinical examination and routine laboratory investigations. Plasma levels of angiotensin II, adrenaline and nor-adrenaline were determined using ELISA assay. Serum aldosterone level was determined using RIA method. The enzyme activities of kallikrein and ACE and NO level were determined using spectrophotometric assay. Serum levels of Na+ and K+ were determined by flame photometer and Ca+2 by flame atomic absorption. All of these parameters were assayed on admission and after 24 hours. All envenomed children showed on admission significant increase in levels of angiotensin II, adrenaline and noradrenaline, ACE, NO, aldosterone and Na+ in comparison with healthy control (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < O.00l and P < 0.001) respectively. On the other hand, kallikrein activity, K+ and Ca+2 levels were significantly decreased (P < O.05, P < O.00l and P < O.05) respectively. However, on the second sample (after 24 hours) it was noted that the levels of ACE, angiotensin II and NO were still higher than those in healthy control (P < O.05, P < O.001 and P < O.05) respectively, but non significant difference was detected in kallikrein activity on comparing the second sample with healthy control. In conclusion, these vasoactive mediators might play an important role in pathogenesis of multi-systemorgan failure and death that occur with scorpion envenomation | ||||
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