Captopril in the treatment of cardiovascular manifestations of indian red scorpion (Mesobuthus tamulus concanesis Pocock) envenomation.

OBJECTIVES To study outcome of patients with scorpion envenomation treated with oral captopril in the ICU of a Tertiary Care, University Hospital in Mumbai. METHODS Retrospective analysis of all patients with scorpion sting admitted to Medical Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care university hospital in Mumbai between 1993 and 2003. RESULTS Of 38 patients with cardiovascular manifestations, six had tachycardia alone and 8 had hypertension; these patients received oral captopril 12.5-25 mg thrice daily with no deaths. Pulmonary oedema with normal blood pressure and high central venous pressure (CVP) was seen in 10 patients. Five patients had hypotension, low CVP but no pulmonary oedema; with fluid infusion, these patients had correction of low CVP and hypotension, but developed pulmonary oedema. Pulmonary oedema resolved in all 15 patients with captopril (6.25-25 mg thrice daily): one patient died of ventricular tachycardia. Nine patients had cardiogenic shock; 6 patients, whose blood pressure improved with dopamine received, captopril; 1 of these 6 died. The other three patients did not respond to maximum vasopressor therapy and could not be given captopril; all three died. Four of the 5 deaths occurred in patients weighing < 25 kg suggesting that severity of cardiovascvlar manifestations also depends on body weight of the victim. CONCLUSION Afterload reduction with oral captopril is safe and effective in scorpion envenomation with cardiovascular manifestations. Results are similar to those with other vasodilators.