Successful Treatment of Ergotism with Iloprost

Abstract

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.