Brown Recluse Spider Bites Michigan Man, Inflicting Rare Vein Blood Clots

Brown recluse spiders are known to be one of the top three arachnids in North America with dangerous venom, the other two being the infamous black widow and Chilean recluse spiders. Experts before have acknowledged that any brown recluse spider bites need medical attention. This is because the bite of a spider carries necrotic venom, a toxin that causes the breakdown of tissue.

Related cases in the past had resulted in reddish skin followed by a blister that emerges in and around the spider bite area. In other words, the bite mark looks like a red, swollen open wound. Health authorities also noted of other symptoms like dizziness, chills, fever, and nausea. However, one such case stood out among the rest.

In a rare medical care study reported in April 2023, a Michigan man developed deep vein blood clots or recurring deep vein thrombosis, officially abbreviated as DVT. Health authorities believed the man survived following the attack and several times of checkups and procedures. While the medical conditions have been known for years as, this is reportedly the first case of its kind.

Michigan Man Spider Bite

(Photo : Image by Robby Lockeby from Pixabay)

In the case study published in the journal Clinical Case Reports, researchers became aware and acknowledged the rare case of the 'recurrent deep vein thrombosis' affecting a 45-year-old man from Michigan, United States, following the brown recluse spider bite.

The research team also consider the case was complicated by 'medication non-compliance' and residual scar tissue, which was initially overlooked when the spider bite victim first sought the help of health authorities.

The team aims to address this first-of-its-kind discovery to clinicians for them to be aware of the occurrent of deep vein thrombosis or DVT following the spider bite.

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Symptoms and Treatment

Based on the narrative, the Michigan man initially complained of experiencing pain and swelling on his left calf, as well as ulcers following the incident. Health officials gave him saline, morphine, and medicine against the blood clotting.

The mentioned pain and swelling symptoms earlier persisted for the man, who also underwent a balloon thrombectomy and had stents placed in several of his affected veins. Due to his reported medical non-compliance, the patient returned several times even with medications until a venous thromboembolism clinic's doctors discovered the man had scar tissue in his veins, Live Science summarized.

Prior to the treatment, the patient's past medical history of asthma, active smoking, and alcohol consumption were also presented to the emergency department. The patient also disclosed his family history experienced AIDS and breast cancer. However, he assured his family had no history of thromboembolism, bleeding, or clotting disorders, the Clinical Case Reports study says.

Brown Recluse Spider

The study is based on prevailing medical procedures when it comes to a brown recluse spider bite. Such procedures currently do not mention DVT as a serious health risk following a bite from the said Loxosceles reclusa spider species.

Brown recluse spiders can be found in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the U.S., where they prefer to live in dry, warm, and dark places. The spider is not aggressive but will bite anyone it deemed as a threat, according to the Cleveland Clinic.