system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 40-year-old man is bitten by a copperhead snake, and he is successfully treated with sheep hyperimmune Fab antivenom. Six days later, the patient develops an itchy abdominal rash and re-presents to the emergency department for medical care. He works as a park ranger. His medical history is significant for gout, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus type II, and multiple basal cell carcinomas on his face and neck. He currently smokes 1 pack of cigarettes per day, drinks a 6-pack of beer per day, and currently denies any illicit drug use. His vital signs include: temperature 40.0°C (104.0°F), blood pressure 126/74 mm Hg, heart rate 111/min, and respiratory rate 23/min. On physical examination, his gait is limited by diffuse arthralgias, and he has clear breath sounds bilaterally and normal heart sounds. There is also a pruritic abdominal serpiginous macular rash which has spread to involve the back, upper trunk, and extremities. Of the following options, which best describes the mechanism of his reaction?
assistant
Type III–immune complex-mediated hypersensitivity reaction