BACKGROUND:

Loxoscelism is a poisoning caused by the bite of Loxosceles recluse spider, whose venom contains sphingomyelinaseD, causing hemolysis and necrosis. We report a case series describing their clinical course and response to treatment.

OBJECTIVE:

To describe the evolution and clinical characteristics of patients with systemic and dermonecrotic loxoscelism, their response to treatment and complications.

PATIENTS AND METHOD:

A descriptive analysis of patients treated in the Internal Medicine Service, Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, from 2010 to 2015.

RESULTS:

A total of 8 men (67%) and 4 women (33%) were included. Mean age was 39.4 years (16-83 years). Bite site was left pelvic limb in 5 cases (42%), 4 in the right forelimb (33%), 2 in the face (17%) and 1 in left forelimb (9%). Nine cases came from Estado de México, 2 from Mexico City and 1 from Hidalgo. Initial manifestations included blisters (five cases), edema and erythema (three cases), liveloide plate (three cases) and necrosis (one case). Nine (75%) patients were initially managed in ICU. Systemic complications were renal (67%), lung with use of amines (33%) and hematological (8%). Ten cases were treated with fabotherapy, with an average of 1.5 vials (0-4). Five cases (42%) received dapsone and 4 of them (33%) developed methemoglobinemia. Eleven (92%) required surgical washing and debridement and 7 (58%) skin graft; four patients (33%) had secondary wound infection. Average hospital stay was 16.2 days (3-40 days).

CONCLUSIONS:

The evolution and prognosis depends on initial suspicion early diagnosis and treatment. Loxoscelism should be included in the differential diagnosis of progressive necrotic lesions, with or without systemic involvement.

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