Horse serum antitoxin

Human 7-globulin Horse diphtheria antitoxin Human serum albumin Insulin... 

Because the antitoxin is a horse serum product, the most likely adverse reactions inclnde hypersensitivity reactions, such as anaphylaxis, serum sickness, and urticaria. Unfortunately, the literature does not contain much information on botulinum antitoxin safety. From 1967 to 1977, when doses were larger than today, the frequency of hypersensitivity reactions was approximately 9%. Dnring that time, 2% of recipients developed anaphylaxis within lOmin of receiving the antitoxin. In... 

III. Contraindications. No absolute contraindications. Known hypersensitivity to botullnum antitoxin or horse serum requires extreme caution if this product is given. 

Treatment—Since C. botulinum toxin blocks the actions of nerves that activate muscles necessary for breathing, an antitoxin can be injected up to about 24 hours (based on monkey studies) after exposure to a lethal toxin dose and still prevent death. The two types of available antitoxins prepared from horse sera are trivalent (includes types A, B, E) and heptavalent (types A, B, C, D, E, F, and G) preparations. It should be noted that patients face a theoretical risk of developing serum sickness from such antitoxins. 

The bacteriologist Emil von Behring had discovered specific antitoxins in the blood serum of animals infected with sub-lethal doses of diphtheria bacilli, but he was unable to produce samples with reproducible levels of activity. Ehrlich not only showed how to raise high concentrations of antitoxins in horses by successive injections of diphtheria bacilli but also developed the methods necessary for the measurement of the potency of the individual serum samples. The treatment of patients then became both safe and effective, and the fact that his methods are still in use today provides a cogent testimony to his skill and ingenuity. 

Trivalent botulinum antitoxin (A,B,E) Horse antibotulism serum (globulin) Botulinum Vaccine... 

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