Abdominal Angina as a Complication of Methysergide Maleate Therapy

Abstract

METHYSERGIDE MALEATE has been used successfully as prophylaxis in the treatment of migraine and other vascular headaches.^1,2The administration of the drug has been associated with the development of vascular insufficiency states, including angina pectoris,²acute ischemia of the limbs,³intermittent claudication,⁴and the Leriche syndrome.⁵Although gastrointestinal side effects, such as abdominal cramps, nausea, and diarrhea occur in about 15% of patients using methysergide,^1,2abdominal angina has not, to our knowledge, previously been recognized as a complication of therapy. <h3>Report of a Case</h3> A 43-year-old cook was admitted to the West Haven Veterans Administration Hospital in April 1966 because of abdominal pain of one month's duration. The pain was cramping and midabdominal with occasional radiation into his back. Meals would invariably bring on the pain which lasted for one to two hours. There was no relation of the pain to posture and there