Acute renal failure after massive honeybee stings

Authors

  • Elizabeth De Francesco Daher Secretaria de Saúde do Estado do Ceará; Serviço de Nefrologia; Hospital Geral de Fortaleza
  • Geraldo Bezerra da Silva Junior Universidade Federal do Ceará; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Medicina Clínica; Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio
  • Glaydcianne Pinheiro Bezerra Universidade Federal do Ceará; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Medicina Clínica; Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio
  • Lícia Borges Pontes Universidade Federal do Ceará; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Medicina Clínica; Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio
  • Alice Maria Costa Martins Universidade Federal do Ceará; Faculdade de Farmácia; Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas
  • José Ambrósio Guimarães Instituto José Frota; Centro de Assistência Toxicológica

Keywords:

Multiple stings, Acute renal failure, Rhabdomyolysis, Bee venom

Abstract

Two clinical cases of patients who survived after numerous attacks of Africanized bees (600 and 1500 bee stings, respectively) are reported. Clinical manifestation was characterized by diffuse and widespread edema, a burning sensation in the skin, headache, weakness, dizziness, generalized paresthesia, somnolence and hypotension. Acute renal failure developed and was attributed to hypotension, intravascular hemolysis, myoglobinuria due to rhabdomyolysis and probably to direct toxic effect of the massive quantity of injected venom. They were treated with antihistaminic, corticosteroids and fluid infusion. One of them had severe acute renal failure and dialysis was required. No clinical complication was observed during hospital stay and complete renal function recovery was observed in both patients. In conclusion, acute renal failure after bee stings is probably due to pigment nephropathy associated with hypovolemia. Early recognition of this syndrome is crucial to the successful management of these patients.

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Published

2003-01-01

Issue

Section

Case Report

How to Cite

Daher, E. D. F., Silva Junior, G. B. da, Bezerra, G. P., Pontes, L. B., Martins, A. M. C., & Guimarães, J. A. (2003). Acute renal failure after massive honeybee stings . Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De São Paulo, 45(1), 45-50. https://revistas.usp.br/rimtsp/article/view/30670