Rhabdomyolysis Caused by Hornet Venom

Abstract

Rhabdomyolysis, or acute necrosis of skeletal muscle fibres, is relatively rare. Among the many agents known to cause such necrosis is animal venom but so far this refers only to that of certain species of snakes (Marsden and Reid, 1961; Furtado and Lester, 1968; Rowlands et al, 1969). We report a different type of venom which may produce this lesion. Severe muscle necrosis developed in two patients who sustained multiple stings by insects of the Order Hymenoptera, the hornet Vespa affinis. © 1972, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.