Hemolytic anemia and hemoglobinuria are rare consequences of brown recluse spider bites. These systemic complications are frequently associated with skin necrosis at the envenomation site. In this case report, a 6-year-old boy developed these systemic features with formation of a small, typical brown recluse spider bite skin lesion without overt skin necrosis. In addition to the case report, the variety of clinical presentations, proposed pathogenesis, and treatment modalities of brown recluse spider bites are reviewed.
BergerR.S.The unremarkable brown recluse spider bite. JAMA1973; 225, 1109–1111
2.
NanceW.E.Hemolytic anemia of necrotic arachnidism. Am J Med1961; 31, 801–806
3.
VorceH.SeccareccioP.WoodruffK.HumphreyG.B.Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy following fatal brown recluse spider bite (necrotic arachnidism). J Pediatr1972; 80, 1035–1037
4.
AtkinsJ.A.WingoC.W.SodemanW.A.Probable cause of necrotic spider bite in the midwest. Science1957; 126, 73
5.
DillahaC.J.JansenG.T.HoneycuttW.M.HaydenC.R.North American loxoscelism, necrotic bite of the brown recluse spider. JAMA1964; 188, 33–36
6.
AtkinsJ.A.WingoC.W.SodemanW.A.FlynnJ.E.Necrotic arachnidism. Am J Trop Med1958; 7, 165–184
7.
NovakR.KumanA.P.M.ThompsonE.BillmeierG.J.Severe systemic toxicity from a spider bite in a six-year-old boy. J Tenn Med Assoc1979; 72, 110–111
8.
LessendenC.M.ZimmerL.K.Brown spider bites: a survey of the current problem. J Kan Med Soc1960; 61, 379–385
9.
MadrigalG.C.ErcolaniR.L.WenzlJ.E.Toxicity from a bite of the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa): skin necrosis, hemolytic anemia, and hemoglobinuria in a nine-year-old child. Clin Pediatr1972; 11, 641–644
10.
MintonS.A.OlsonC.A case of spider bite with severe hemolytic reaction. J Pediatr1964; 33, 283–284
11.
ArnoldR.E.Brown recluse spider bites: five cases with a review of the literature. JACEP1976; 5, 262–264
12.
ReesR.S.CampbellD.S.Spider bites. In: AuerbachP.S.GeehrE.C. eds. Management of Wilderness and Environmental Emergencies. 2nd ed.St. Louis: C.V. Mosby Co, 1989
13.
AuerA.I.HersheyF.B.Surgery for necrotic bites of the brown spider. Arch Surg1974; 108, 612–618
14.
HersheyF.B.AulenbacherC.E.Surgical treatment of brown spider bites. Ann Surg1969; 170, 300–308
15.
MajeskiT.A.DurstG.C.Necrotic arachnidism. South Med J1976; 69, 887–891
16.
YarbroughB.E.Current treatment of brown recluse spider bites. Current Concepts of Wound Care19874–6Winter
17.
KingL.E.ReesR.S.Spider bites and scorpion stings. Current Therapy1978970–973
18.
AndersonE.J.Recognizing the recluse spider bite in children: necrotic arachnidism. J LA State Med Soc1987; 139, 33–36
19.
ReesR.S.KingL.E.FieldsJ.P.Brown recluse spider bites: a cause of pyoderma gangrenosum. South Med J1985; 78, 283–287
20.
FardonD.W.WingoC.W.RobinsonD.W.MastersF.N.The treatment of brown spider bite. Plast Reconstr Surg1967; 40, 482–488
21.
EichnerE.R.Spider bite hemolytic anemia: positive Coombs’ test, erythrophagocytosis, and leukocrythroblastic smear. Am J Clin Pathol1984; 81, 683–687
22.
WassermanG.S.AndersonP.C.Loxoscelism and necrotic arachnidism. J Clin Toxicol1984; 21, 451–472
23.
SmithC.N.MicksD.W.The role of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the lesion caused by the venom of the brown spider, Loxosceles reclusa. Lab Invest1970; 22, 90–93
24.
WrightR.P.ElgertK.D.CampbellB.J.BarrettJ.T.Hyaluronidase and esterase activities of the venom of the poisonous brown recluse spider. Arch Biochem Biophys1973; 159, 415–426
25.
MorganB.B.MorganP.N.BowlingR.E.Lysis of human erythrocytes by venom from the brown recluse spider, Loxosceles reclusa. Toxicon1978; 16, 85–88
26.
FutrellJ.M.MorganB.B.MorganP.N.An in vitro model for studying hemolysis associated with venom from the brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa). Toxicon1979; 17, 355–362