Renal involvement in Russell's viper bite patients without disseminated intravascular coagulation.

We measured urinary β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG; EC 3.2.1.30), blood urea, serum creatinine, albuminuria index and creatinine clearance in 16 patients bitten by Russell's viper (Daboia russelii siamensis) without disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) at the time of admission and then once daily for 5 d. Urinary NAG activity and the albuminuria index showed considerable variation whereas the other standard indicators of renal function revealed no abnormality. It is concluded that structural damage to the kidney occurred in these victims in the absence of DIC, indicating a direct toxic effect of Russell's viper venom on the kidney.