American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 64, Issue 5, 280-282
Copyright © 2001 by American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Research Articles
Case report: Acute myocardial infarction complicating a viper bite
AM Saadeh
Myocardial infarction is a rare complication of snakebite. The present report describes a 40-year-old Jordanian farmer who developed an acute myocardial infarction several hours after a snakebite. The diagnosis of myocardial infarction was confirmed by a typical history of retrosternal chest pain, characteristic electrocardiographic changes, and elevated serum creatinine kinase (MB-CK). The patient had no risk factors for coronary artery disease and the coronary arteries were normal on cardiac catheterization. The possible mechanisms leading to myocardial infarction following snakebite are discussed.