[Arterial fibromuscular dysplasia and ergotism]

Renal arteries of a 29-year-old hypertensive woman are described typical of fibro muscular dysplasia. Segmental stenoses of femoral, humeral and carotid arteries are associated. The histological study of one renal artery discloses a sub-adventitial fibrosis; besides there are pictures which are very close to those found during chronic intoxication with ergotamine tartrate. Patient history confirms this intoxication. Discontinuation of the ergotamine intoxication and administration of vaso-dilating substances are associated with a dramatic subjective and objective improvement of renal and peripheral arterial signs. The reversibility of the symptoms constitutes a serious clinical proof of the hypothesis of Bercquist and coll. (1971): that a prolonged arterial spasm could represent a promoting factor of arterial fibro-muscular dysplasias.