Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38153416›Full record

SynthesisArchives of toxicology2024

Systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of Indian polyvalent antivenom against the Indian snakes of clinical significance.

Gayathri Gopal, Harish Selvaraj, Suresh Krishna Venkataramanan, Saraswathi Venkataraman, Keerthana Saravanan, Catherine Bibina, Senthil Visaga Ambi

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Archives of toxicology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Snakebite envenoming in India: it is time we look beyond the concept of the Big Four species.Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Gayathri Gopal *Biopharmaceutical Research Lab, Anusandhan Kendra-1, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed-to-be-University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India.
Harish Selvaraj *Biopharmaceutical Research Lab, Anusandhan Kendra-1, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed-to-be-University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India.
Suresh Krishna VenkataramananBiopharmaceutical Research Lab, Anusandhan Kendra-1, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed-to-be-University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India.
Saraswathi VenkataramanBiopharmaceutical Research Lab, Anusandhan Kendra-1, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed-to-be-University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India.
Keerthana SaravananBiopharmaceutical Research Lab, Anusandhan Kendra-1, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed-to-be-University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India.
Catherine BibinaBiopharmaceutical Research Lab, Anusandhan Kendra-1, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed-to-be-University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India.
Senthil Visaga AmbiBiopharmaceutical Research Lab, Anusandhan Kendra-1, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed-to-be-University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613401, India. senthilvisagaambi@scbt.sastra.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-0311-6749
SASTRA University · IN

Funding

Human Resource Development Group 09/1095(0062)/2020-EMR-I
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Snakebite in India is a severe problem as it causes a mortality rate of 58,000 and a disability rate of 140,000 every year which is the highest among any other country. Antivenom is the primary therapy for snakebite, and its manufacturing techniques have essentially stayed unaltered for over a century. Indian polyvalent antivenom, a scientifically validated medicine for treating the toxic effects of snakebites, is available against the venom of the so-called Big Four snakes namely Spectacled cobra (Naja naja), Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus), Russell's viper (Daboia russelli) and the Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus), responsible for majority of the deaths in India. India hosts many other species of snakes, including cobras, kraits, saw-scaled vipers, sea snakes, and pit vipers, responsible for clinically severe envenomation. Neutralization strategy has been applied to access the efficacy of antivenoms, crucial for reducing snake bite deaths and disabilities. This review aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the neutralization efficiency of the Polyvalent Antivenom (PAV) and focus on the factors that may contribute to the poor recognition of the antivenom towards the venom toxins. Reports focusing on the investigation of antivenom efficacy were searched and collected from several databases. Preclinical studies that reported the neutralization efficacy of the commercial antivenom against the medically important snakes of India were included. The articles were screened based on the inclusion criteria and 8 studies were shortlisted for meta-analysis. Pooled proportion was calculated for the antivenom efficacy reported by the studies and was found to be statistically significant with a 95% confidence interval. The heterogenicity in the venom toxicity and neutralization potency of the antivenom was evident in the overall estimate (proportion) and individual data. We provide comprehensive evidence on antivenom efficacy against medically important snakes from various parts of India which may aid in identifying the gaps in snake envenomation therapy and the need for novel potentially improved treatment of snakebites.

Indexed as

BungarusDaboiaEchisSnake BitesVenomous SnakesAnimalsAntiveninsClinical RelevanceAntiveninsMeta-analysisNeutralization potencyNon-big fourPolyvalent antivenomSnakebite

Identifiers

PMID38153416
OpenAlexW4390345798

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.