Immune-mediated mechanism for thrombocytopenia after Loxosceles spider bite.

Abstract

Loxoscelism, characterized by high fever, vomiting, malaise, a dermonecrotic lesion, and thrombocytopenia, was diagnosed in a 3-year-old female. Clinical laboratory and dermatological signs are described. Blood test showed a transient hypercoagulable state and the presence of IgG antibodies against platelets, suggesting an immune-mediated mechanism for platelet destruction, in addition to the direct toxic effect of the spider venom. The finding of platelet antibodies after a Loxosceles spider bite has not been previously reported.

• Authors: Carina Levin, Lilach Bonstein, Roy Lauterbach, Rivka Mader, Dganit Rozemman, Ariel Koren
• Journal: Pediatric blood & cancer (Pediatr Blood Cancer) Vol. 61 Issue 8 Pg. 1466-8 (Aug 2014) ISSN: 1545-5017 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24497468 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies

Topics

• Animals
• Autoantibodies (blood, immunology)
• Brown Recluse Spider
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Spider Bites (blood, complications, immunology)
• Thrombocytopenia (blood, etiology, immunology)