Erythromycin-Associated Ergotamine Intoxication: Arteriographic and Electrophysiologic Analysis of a Rare Cause of Severe Ischemia of the Lower Extremities and Associated Ischemic Neuropathy

Vasospasm associated with ergotamine is a well-known phenomenon. In this case report we present a rare drug interaction between erythromycin and ergotamine at normal doses causing lower extremity ischemia in a 36-year-old woman. Nitroprusside proved to be the treatment of choice. The response was dr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inAnnals of vascular surgery Vol. 7; no. 3; pp. 291 - 296
Main Authors Ghali, Rafik, De Léan, Jacques, Douville, Yvan, Noël, Henri-Paul, Labbé, Raymond
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Netherlands Elsevier Inc 1993
Subjects
Adult
Angiography
Drug Interactions
Ergotamine - poisoning
Erythromycin - adverse effects
Female
Humans
Ischemia - chemically induced
Ischemia - diagnosis
Ischemia - diagnostic imaging
Ischemia - drug therapy
Leg - blood supply
Leg - innervation
Neural Conduction
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - chemically induced
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - diagnosis
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Vasospasm associated with ergotamine is a well-known phenomenon. In this case report we present a rare drug interaction between erythromycin and ergotamine at normal doses causing lower extremity ischemia in a 36-year-old woman. Nitroprusside proved to be the treatment of choice. The response was dramatic and took place in a matter of hours in this patient. Ischemic monomelic neuropathy is a recently described entity in which axonal necrosis is caused by a loss of distal extremity blood flow. The association between erythromycin and ergotamine may be a dangerous pharmacologic combination; drugs that have a hepatic cycle with ergotamine derivatives must be used with caution.
ISSN:0890-5096
1615-5947
DOI:10.1007/BF02000258