Photo of Leslie V Boyer
Leslie V Boyer
Medical Director, Viper Institute
Primary Department
Viper Institute
Department Affiliations
Viper Institute
(520) 626-7669
boyer@viper.arizona.edu
Research Interest
Leslie Boyer, MD, is recognized as the leading authority on clinical study of scorpion stings, and for her studies of the interaction of snake venom, antivenom and the coagulation of blood.Dr. Boyer is medical director of the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center in the College of Pharmacy and founding director of the VIPER Institute in the College of Medicine at the UA. She joined the UA pediatric faculty in 1991 and has additional appointments in pharmacology and pathology in the College of Medicine and an administrative appointment in Pharmacy.Dr. Boyer conducts clinical studies of envenomation and is carrying out Phase II and III clinical trials of antivenoms for the treatment of scorpion stings and snake bites. Her work has been presented on The Discovery Channel, PBS, BBC, National Geographic and National Public Radio.

Publications

Boyer, L. V., Chase, P. B., Degan, J. A., Figge, G., Buelna-Romero, A., Luchetti, C., & Alagón, A. (2013). Subacute coagulopathy in a randomized, comparative trial of Fab and F(ab')2 antivenoms. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology, 74, 101-8.

Envenomation by pit vipers is associated with coagulation disorders including hypofibrinogenemia and thrombocytopenia. These abnormalities correct following antivenom treatment during the acute phase of the disease. Delayed or recurrent coagulation abnormalities have been reported following use of Fab antivenom, resulting in risk of hemorrhage or death.

Benard-Valle, M., Neri-Castro, E., Fry, B., BOYER, L., Cochran, C., Alam, M., Jackson, T., Paniagua, D., Olvera-Rodriguez, F., Koludarov, I., & others, . (2015). Antivenom Research and Development. Venomous Reptiles and Their Toxins: Evolution, Pathophysiology and Biodiscovery, 61.
Dart, R., Hurlburt, K., & Boyer-Hassen, L. (2016). Lead. I: Dart RC, red. Medical toxicology, 3, 1423--31.
Boyer, L. V., Theodorou, A. A., Berg, R. A., Mallie, J., Ch{\'a}vez-M{\'e}ndez, A., Garc{\'\i}a-Ubbelohde, W., Hardiman, S., & Alag{\'o}n, A. (2009). Antivenom for critically ill children with neurotoxicity from scorpion stings. New England Journal of Medicine, 360, 2090--2098.
Boyer, L., Heubner, K., McNally, J., & Buchanan, J. (2001). Death from Centruroides scorpion sting allergy. J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol, 39, 561--562.