The Immune System in Foetal Death After a Spider Bite: Case Report with Literature Review

Abstract

Loxoscelism is caused by the bite of a spider belonging to any of the Loxosceles species. We analyse the case of a pregnant woman, 35 weeks into gestation, who was accidentally bitten by a Loxosceles rufescens, in June 2015. She was treated with corticosteroids and antihistamines. After 36 hours of the bite, the patient went to Hospital having felt a lack of foetal movements. Foetal death was diagnosed and the woman was admitted for induction of labour. The autopsy stated as the cause of foetal death to be the presence of umbilical vein thrombosis and sub-funicular placental infarction. We propose that the activation of the thrombosis, in the case of this pregnancy was triggered by events linked directly with the venom of the spider. This venom possesses chemical components sufficient to activate the complement cascade which is closely linked to the coagulation system, and indirectly affected by the inflammation of the allergic response in a previously sensitized patient.