Summary
We report a case of ergotism due to the interaction of erythromycin with a small dose of ergotamine tartrate (2 mg). Besides severe peripheral vasospasm with dysaesthesiae there was transient renal ischaemia. Recovery occurred after several weeks without sodium nitropruside therapy. Cases previously reported in the literaure are reviewed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hayton, A.C. Precipitation of acute ergotism by triacetyloleandomycin. N Z Med J, 1969, 69, 42.
Bigorie, B., Aimez, P., Soria, R.J., Samama, F., di Maria, G., Guy-Grand, B., Bour, H. L'association triacétyl oléandomycine-tartrate d'ergotamine est-elle dangereuse? Nouv Presse Med, 1975, 4, 2723–2725.
Lesca, H., Ossard, D., Reynier, P.H. Les risques de l'association tri-acétyl-oléandomycine et tartrate d'ergotamine. Nouv Presse Med, 1976, 5, 1832–1833.
Franco, A., Bourlard, P., Massot, C., Lecoueur, J., Guidicelli, H., Bessard, G. Ergotisme aigu par association dihydroergotamine — triacétyloléandomycine. Nouv Presse Med, 1978, 7, 205.
Vayssairat, M., Fiessiger, J-N., Becquemin, M-H., Houset, E. Associaton dihydroergotamine et triacétyloléandomycin. Rôle dans une nécrose digitale iatrogène. Nouv Presse Med, 1978, 7, 2077.
Chignier, E., Riou, R., Descotes, J., Meunier, P., Courpron, P., Vignon, G. Ergotisme iatrogène aigu par association médicamenteuse diagnostiqué par exploration non invasive (vélocimétrie à effet Doppler) Nouv Presse Med, 1978, 7, 2478.
Dupuy, J.C., Lardy, Ph., Seaulau, P., Kervoelen, P., Paulet, J. Spasmes atériels systémiques. Tartrate d'ergotamine. Arch Mal Coeur. 1979, 72, 86–91.
Matthews, N.T., Havill, J.H. Ergotism with therapeutic doses of ergotamine tartrate. N Z Med J, 1979, 89, 476–477.
Boucharlat, J., Franco, A., Carpentier, P., Charignon, Y., Denis, B., Hommel, M. Ergotisme en milieu psychiatrique par association D.H.E. propionate d'érythromycine. A propos d'une observation. Ann Med Pychol, 1980, 138, 292–6.
Neveux, E., Lesgourgues, B., Luton, J-P., Guilhaume, B., Bertagna, Picard, J. Ergotisme aigu par association proprionate d'érythromycine-dihydroergotamine. Nouv Presse Med, 1981, 10, 2830.
Desjars, Ph., Meignier, M., Pinaud, M., Tasseau, F., Nicolas, F. Place du nitroprussiate de sodium dans les accidents ischemiques deL'ergotisme aigu. Nouv Presse Med, 1981, 10, 2959–2961.
Collet, A.M., Moncharmont, D., San Marco, J.L., Eissinger, F., Pinot, J.J., Laselve, L. Ergotisme iatrogène: rôle de l'association tartrate d'ergotamine — proprionate d'érythromycine. Sem Hôp Paris, 1982, 58, 1624–1626.
Evans, P.J.D., Lloyd, J.W., Peet, K.M.S. Autonomic dysaestesia due to ergot toxicity. Br Med J, 1980, 281, 1621.
Hokkanen, E., Waltimo, O., Kallanranta, T. Toxic effects of ergotamine used for migraine. Headache 1978, 18, 95–8.
Berde, B., Schild, H.O. Pharmacology and clinical pharmacology of dihydroergotamine. Berlin. Heidelberg. New York: Springer-Verlag 1981.
Additional reference
Husted, J.W., Ring, E.K., Hirsh, L.F. Intra-arterial nitroprusside for ergotism. Am J Roentgenol, 1978, 131, 1090–1092.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Francis, H., Tyndall, A. & Webb, J. Severe vascular spasm due to erythromycin — Ergotamine interaction. Clin Rheumatol 3, 243–246 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02030764
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02030764