Common ground?: Tetracyclines, matrix metalloproteinases, pustular dermatoses, and loxoscelism.

The fear of spiders is ancient and common throughout much of the world. Skin ulceration and necrosis due to Loxosceles spider envenomation ("bites") is among the best known sequelae of a usually accidental encounter. Therapies for Loxosceles envenomations either are not well documented or have adverse side effects that limit their use by generalists. Based on in vitro and in vivo studies in rabbits injected with purified or recombinant sphingomyelinase D2, Paixão-Cavalcante et al. (2007) propose in this issue that topical tetracyclines could become safe, efficacious therapy for cutaneous loxoscelism.