Hallux Ischemia Observed during the Ergotamine Taking
Raja Amri
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, Burn and Hand Surgery, Mohamed Taher Al Maamouri Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.
Rabie Ayari
Department of Plastic, Hand Surgery and Burns, Maamouri Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.
Rami Triky
Department of Plastic, Hand Surgery and Burns, Maamouri Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.
Fatma Ben Dahmane
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, Burn and Hand Surgery, Mohamed Taher Al Maamouri Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.
Mohamed Ali Sbai *
Department of Plastic, Hand Surgery and Burns, Maamouri Hospital, Nabeul, Tunisia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Arteriopathies due to drug-administration have been described. However, the data is insufficient. Ergotism is caused by ergotamine derivatives intake. It can lead to arterial spasms, causing limb claudication and even distal necrosis in some cases. We report a 42-year-old female patient with a 2-year history of ergot derivatives treatment for migraine attacks. She presented with acute ischemia of the left hallux. She did not take any concomitant medications. Blood test was normal, as well as the arterial Doppler ultrasound of the lower limb. No other cause that could explain this ischemia was present. Discontinuation of ergotamine and vasodilator treatment resolved the ischemia, without sequelae. Physicians should be aware that ergotamine may cause ischemia. Stopping ergotamine is important.
Keywords: Arteriopathies, ergotism, hallux, ischemia, ergotamine derivatives, vasodilator treatment