Acute limb ischemia due to ergotism.

Acute ischemia of an extremity potentially threatens limb loss and occasionally the life of the patient. We are reporting two cases of extremity ischemia secondary to ergot poisoning. The first patient was a 60 years old woman, who presented with a 15 days history of ischemia of the left arm with gangrene of the fingers and pain in the resting right hand for one day. Right brachial artery catheterization showed severe spasm of the artery which was resolved by passage of the inflated balloon catheter. She underwent amputation for gangrene of the left hand. The second patient presented with bilateral symmetrical ischemia of the lower extremities which improved upon withdrawal of the ergot containing medicine. She responded to nifedipine.

[Ergotism. A case report and review of the literature]. / Ergotismo. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la bibliografía.

INTRODUCTION: Ergotism is characterised by an intensive generalised vasoconstriction of small and large blood vessels. The symptoms derive from the regional ischemia caused by the vasospasm produced by ergotamine. Nowadays, ergotism is almost exclusively due to the excessive ingestion of ergotamine tartrate used in the treatment of migraine. The main treatment consists in withdrawing the medication. CASE REPORT: Our study involves a 53-year-old male with a history of migraine since his youth, who was treated with ergotaminic preparations up until the day before admission to hospital. He was admitted because of a 7-day history of symptoms including bilateral and symmetrical anaesthesia of the fingers and a general feeling of weakness, associated with intense pain and cyanosis of the right thenar eminence. On admission, it was not possible to measure his AT in the upper limbs and his peripheral pulses dropped in a generalised manner. Aetiologies involving vasculitis were ruled out. An angiography study showed segmented stenosis of arteries in the upper and lower limbs. Ergotaminic agents were withdrawn and nifedipine was indicated. The symptoms disappeared, the physical examination was normal and results of a control angiography study were also normal. CONCLUSIONS: Ergotamine intoxication can be detected by a thorough interview and physical examination; it should be suspected when faced with symptoms that are compatible with vasospasms and a history of ingestion of the drug, in the absence of any prothrombotic, liver, kidney or vasculitic pathology. This condition is treated by withdrawing the drug and administration of vasodilators if the symptoms are intense. In this paper, we review the history, pathophysiology, initial symptoms and signs, diagnosis and treatment of ergotamine poisoning.

Vascular insufficiency secondary to ergotism.

A case of ergot-induced peripheral vascular insufficiency mimicking atherosclerosis is presented and the clinical symptoms with vascular laboratory evaluation and roentgenographic findings are discussed in detail. A review of the literature of the vascular complications of ergot alkaloids is presented. After considering the various therapeutic modalities employed, a conservative, but hopefully more rational, treatment for these lesions is recommended. Although uncommon, this problem always must be considered in the differential diagnosis of the young patient, especially female, who presents with visceral or peripheral arterial insufficiency.

Mesenteric and peripheral vascular ischemia secondary to ergotism.

At the present time ergotism is due primarily to excessive use or abuse of ergot preparations for migraine headaches. The diagnosis may be made with the evidence of vascular ischemia in the presence of a history of migraines and its treatment with this drug. The therapy for the vasospasm is directed chiefly at the discontinuation of the ergot preparation, with further treatment aimed at the relief of symptoms or prevention of complications. A case is presented of lower extremity ischemia with impending gangrene of both feet in a patient with a history of chronic schizophrenia. Arteriograms revealed symmetrical vasospasm in the lower extremities as well as spasm of the superior mesenteric artery and its intestinal branches. This is believed to be the first documented case of mesenteric vasospasm due to ergotism. Treatment was instituted with low molecular weight dextran, tolazoline, and reserpine with rapid and complete resolution. Caution is advised in the use of ergot preparations in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Ergotism: a possible etiology for puerperal psychosis.

Some reports in the medical literature have mentioned the occurrence of psychotic reactions in response to the use of certain ergot alkaloids in therapeutic doses. Prompted by these observations, we undertook a search for cases of "pure" puerperal psychosis (ie, typical manifestations 3-14 days postpartum) in order to evaluate the clinical background of this phenomenon. Special attention was paid to the medications that the patients had received peripartum. In the last 10 years, out of eight perinatal centers, we found only three cases that fulfilled the criteria of the quoted entity. In all instances, the manifestations of puerperal psychosis had been preceded by the administration of ergot derivatives. Based on the presented data, we hypothesize that typical postpartum psychosis may represent an idiosyncratic reaction to potent vasoactive drugs including ergot derivatives. The similarities between the clinical manifestations of ergotism and puerperal psychosis, and some of the epidemiologic features of the latter condition, appear to implicate ergot alkaloids as potential causative agents. Although the validity of the suggested interpretation requires further evaluation, we believe that the currently available data warrant caution with regard to the administration of ergot derivatives postpartum. These drugs should not be used in the absence of clear indication or in unnecessarily high doses. We suggest that ergotism be included in the differential diagnosis in cases of pure puerperal psychosis.

Ergotism.

Severe extremity ischemia developed in four patients who had ingested methysergide maleate or ergot for the relief of headache. Symptoms involved the upper extremity in two patients and the lower extremity in two. Spontaneous reversal of the ischemic picture was obtained by simple discontinuation of ergot in most instances, although intra-arterial vasodilators were used in one case. Angliography disclosed arterial spasm and was a useful adjunct in confirming the cause of ischemia in each of the patients. It was especially useful when a history or ergot ingestion was not immediately available.

[Erogotism as a cuase of abnormal peripheral arterial flow (author's transl)]. / Erotismus als Ursache peripherer arterieller Durchblutungsstörungen.

Ergotism is seen rarely as a complication of the treatment of migraine with drugs containing egotamine. The prognosis is good if the disease is recognised at an early stage and ergotamine medication is discontinued. A case of ergotism studied angiographically is described. The patient was a 46-year old woman who developed severe vascular spasm in pelvic and lower limb arteries within four weeks of taking 100 mg. erotamine tartrate. The changes disappeared completely once the ergotamine preparation was stopped.

Severe facial ischaemia caused by ergotism.

A case of ergotamine induced severe face ischaemia mimicking acute arteritis is presented. The unique clinical picture was due to bilateral involvement of both external carotid arteries. No case of ergotism with such a localization has been previously described in the literature.

St. Anthony's fire (ergotamine induced leg ischemia)--a case report and review of the literature.

Ergotism, once an epidemic disease, is now a rare disorder. The most common manifestation is acute peripheral ischemia due to vasospasm, with an incidence of 0.001%. We report a case of a middle-age woman who presented with ergotamine-induced leg ischemia, due to chronic use of ergotamine-containing medications for migraine headaches. The diagnosis was confirmed with arteriography results, and she responded well to vasodilator therapy. The pharmacology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, and therapy of ergotism are reviewed.

Successful treatment of ergotism with Iloprost--a case report.

A 34-year-old woman was hospitalized for severe acute arterial insufficiency of the limbs. Overuse of ergotamine derivative was acknowledged by the patient, who had a long history of migraine headaches. An arteriogram showed diffuse arterial spasm and occlusion of right leg distal arteries. Intravenous infusion of a stable prostacyclin analog (Iloprost) was administered. Rapid and complete improvement of arteriospasm was noted within a few hours, confirmed by a further arteriogram. This appears to be one of the rare case reports of successful limb salvage by use of Iloprost for ergotism.

[Severe arterial spasm and secondary thromboses of the limbs in chronic ergotism]. / Grave arteriospasmo e trombosi secondarie agli arti da ergotismo cronico.

A 40 year old woman who took a daily dose of 2-4 mg of Ergotamine Tartrate (Cafergot) regularly for 6 years to combat persistent migraine, was treated for a non-atherosclerotic arterial disease, severe arteriospasm of the great limb arteries, hyperplasia of the intima and segmental thrombosis. Binding of adrenergic alpha and beta receptors was investigated. Surprisingly it was found that the number of adrenergic beta receptors was significantly lower thant that of a healthy woman of the same age used as a control while the number of alpha receptors was not significantly different. This action of ergotamine on beta receptors could be explained by a dopamine-mimetic stimulation, due to the central nervous system, that could lead to the preferential regulation of beta receptors rather than alpha receptors, almost as a protective mechanism of alpha receptors.

[Occlusion of both femoral arteries in one case of ergotism (author's transl)]. / Femoralisverschlüsse bei einem fall von Ergotismus.

In a 29 year-old female occlusions of both femoral arteries were caused by the administration of ergotamine in the form of Cafergot-suppositories. Angiographically long smooth-walled stenoses and occlusions over a segment of approximately 5 cm length in each superficial femoral artery as well as occlusions of both tibial arteries were demonstrated. Follow-up was carried out with oscillography, rheography, plethysmography and Doppler ultra-sound technique. A repeat angiogram 1 week after discontinuation of the drug and medical management with intravenous infusions of Ronicol and Valium revealed patent vessels of the lower extremities.

[Systemic arterial spasms. Ergotamine tartrate]. / Spasmes artériels systémiques. Tartrate d'ergotamine.

The problem of the toxic effects of ergotism is raised by two cases of acute lower limb ischaemia observed in young patients. Although commonly encountered up to the 20th century, the problem is now reappearing sporadically from iatrogenic causes. The clinical features and treatment of ergotism are discussed. Prophylaxis is based on two main principles: the respect of contraindications, the most important being hypertension, coronary insufficiency, arteriopathies, acrocyanosis and thrombophlebitis, and less importantly, the association of tetracycline type antimicrobials, triacetyloleandomycin and phenothiazine; on the other hand, attention must also be paid to the instructions on its use, particularly with respect to the maximum dosage, 4 mg/day per os, 10 mg/week per os. The treatment should be given intermittently and not continuously. Full knowledge of the composition of composite drugs is required as many drugs are commercialised with their ergotamine content masked. This justifies, if there is still need, constant pharmacovigilance.

Outbreak of bovine abortion attributed to ergot poisoning.

Eleven out of 36 suckler cows, all in late pregnancy, aborted seven to 10 days following introduction to a rye grass pasture heavily infested with ergot. On the basis of known heavy exposure to ergot infested grass and negative findings in a range of other investigations, details of which are given, a diagnosis of ergotism was made.

[Severe ischemic accidents from ergotism. A report on 3 cases. Value of a new antidote : sodium nitropruside (author's transl)]. / Accidents ischémiques graves par ergotisme. A propos de 3 cas. Intérêt d'un nouvel antidote : le nitroprussiate de sodium.

The autors describe 3 recent cases of severe ischemic accidents from ergotism affecting different regions. Two of the cases resulted from taking Gynergene (ergotamine tartrate) for a short period, while the other case followed continuous administration of Desernil (Methysergide) for 3 years. The third case was treated at a late stage by continuous peridural anesthesia and various vasodilators without success and led to very severe mutilations in two young women. The third case was treated by continuous infusions of sodium nitropruside (SNP) under hemodynamic control, and recovery was rapid and complete. The value of SNP as an antidote for severe ergotism is discussed, together with its mode of administration, and precautions necessary when prescribing this extremely powerful vasodilator treatment for this indication.

[Ergotism of therapeutic origin. A report of 4 new cases (author's transl)]. / Ergotisme d'origine thérapeutique. Quatre nouvelles observations.

The observations concern ischemic accidents with various localizations (lower limbs, tongue, uterus, intestine, heart, liver) corresponding to 4 observations for which ergot derivatives (ergotamine tartrate) can be responsible. The most typical accidents are localized at the level of limbs and especially of lower limbs. In the greatest part of observations, a specific terrain (puerperium, vasomotor disorders, suspicion of temporal arteritis) can be considered and favouring factors (infection, and especially associated medicinal treatments with triacetyloleandomycin [2 observations] and Doxycyclin [1 observation]). The posologies of ergot alcaloïds were either superior to the limit prescription or normal. The duration of prescription was variable, but generally short. The arteriography confirms a vascular spasm. In an observation with very severe evolution, various ischemic localizations inducing amputation, two intestinal resections and an hemodialysis for lactic acidosis were noted. These ischemic accidents have to be noticed as early as possible in order to start a treatment; the best one seems to be the association of sodium nitroprussiate in intravenous perfusion with peri-dural anesthesia in an antalgic aim.

Brachial artery stenosis secondary to ergotism and responsive to nifedipine.

Ergotism is an uncommon drug reaction that may lead to severe ischemic vasoconstriction, which is usually unilateral and more commonly involves the lower extremities. Successful therapeutic measures have included invasive vascular surgery and the use of various available intravenous and oral vasodilators. Reported here is the case of a 56-year-old woman with Marfan's syndrome and chronic migraine headaches who presented with upper extremity pulselessness that responded promptly to oral nifedipine (Procardia). This relatively inexpensive agent with potent peripheral arterial vasodilative properties appears to be the agent of choice in severe ergotamine poisoning.

[Chronic ergotism: spinal lesion and neuropathy]. / Ergotisme chronique: atteinte médullaire et mononeuropathie.

INTRODUCTION: Neuropathologic manifestations due to chronic ergotism are rare. OBSERVATION: We report the case of a 40-year-old patient who presented clinical signs and symptoms of a spinal lesion and also the symptoms of neuropathy involving the right sciatic nerve, more precisely the internal and external popliteal nerves, following ingestion of methysergide. Complete recovery was achieved with calcium blocker treatment. CONCLUSION: Ergotism should be considered in patients treated by ergot alkaloids presenting an atypical clinical manifestations.