H03 --January 2007 -- Snake Venom Study

Intro: Every since the Garden of Eden, snakes have gotten a bad rap. Vipers, fangs and venom are the stuff of horror movies and nightmares. But in the medical world, snakes are becoming good guys. Doctors are testing snake venom to see if it can help stroke victims by buying them more time. More from Mayo Clinic.

“I SEE QUITE A FEW SNAKES AROUND HERE. A FRIEND OF MINE GOT BIT RIGHT UP ON MY PORCH.”

IRONICALLY THE SAME PROPERTIES OF THE VENOM THAT MADE HIS FRIEND SICK MIGHT HAVE HELPED BRAD EDGIN [EDGE-IN] SURVIVE THE EFFECTS OF A DEVASTATING STROKE.

“I FELT LIKE I WAS IN A DREAM I COULDN’T REALLY WALK CORRECTLY. SO I FIGURED I’D JUST GO BACK TO BED AND WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND EVERYTHING WOULD BE PEACHY.”

THE NEXT DAY BRAD’S LEFT SIDE WAS PARALYZED AND HIS SPEECH WAS SLURRED. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE HE DIDN’T GET TO THE HOSPITAL IN TIME FOR STANDARD TREATMENT -- A DRUG CALLED TPA. IF YOU GET TPA WITHIN 3 HOURS THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE IT CAN BREAK UP THE BLOOD CLOT THAT’S CUTTING OFF BLOOD FLOW TO YOUR BRAIN. BUT BRAD WAS THERE IN TIME TO RECEIVE AN EXPERIMENTAL DRUG CALLED ANCROD, MADE FROM THE VENOM OF THE MALAYAN PIT VIPER.

“IT’S A SNAKE VENOM THAT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED TO HAVE PROPERTIES THAT BREAK UP CLOT AND MAKE THE BLOOD LESS VISCOUS OR THICK.”

DR. BART DEMAERSCHALK [DE-MARSHALL] AND HIS TEAM ARE PART OF A NATIONAL STUDY TO SEE IF SNAKE VENOM WILL HELP STROKE VICTIMS FOR UP TO 6 HOURS AFTER ONSET OF SYMPTOMS. POSSIBLY BUYING TIME FOR PEOPLE LIKE BRAD.

“WE DON’T KNOW WHETHER HE TRULY RECEIVED ANCROD OR WHETHER HE RECEIVED THE PLACEBO, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT HE HAD A MUCH BETTER THAN EXPECTED RECOVERY FROM HIS STROKE.”

“I MAKE JOKES THAT I HISS A LOT.”

SINCE BRAD MAY HAVE GOTTEN THE VENOM HE HAS TO TAKE A PRETTY UNUSUAL PRECAUTION. HE CAN’T GET BITTEN BY ANOTHER SNAKE BECAUSE MORE VENOM COULD CAUSE HIM TO GO INTO ANAPHYLACTIC [ANNA-FALACTIC] SHOCK.

“WATCH FOR SNAKES.”

AND THAT’S A REAL ISSUE SINCE THE SONORAN DESERT IS BRAD’S BACK YARD. FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I’M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Tag: Again, Dr. Demaerschalk says the study is on-going and they do not know if Brad received the venom. But if this study proves true, doctors will have another weapon in the fight against stroke. And remember if you have stroke symptoms -- numbness or weakness on one side of the body, sudden problems with speech, severe headache or sudden visual problems -- call an ambulance. Time is of the essence with stroke. For more information, log onto our Website at…

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