Arthropod poisons and the cardiovascular system

Animal poisons induce myocardial damage after envenomation, The cardiac man ifestations after black widow spider bite are rarely observed and their pro gnostic significance are not known. Hymenoptera induce anaphylactic manifes tations commonly observed in adults with previous coronary artery disease a lthough myocardial involvement is observed in a few without previous heart disease, The mechanism of cardiac involvement after scorpion envenomation h as been elucidated, however after widow spider bite or hymenoptera stings t he mechanism of myocardial damage of those without previous heart disease i s not clear, (Am J Emerg Med 2000;18:708-714, Copyright (C) 2000 by W.B. Sa unders Company).