[Retroperitoneal fibrosis associated with chronic use of ergotamine: report of one case]

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) associated with chronic use of ergotamine is a very rare disorder. We report a 45-year-old woman who presented with a RPf after using, almost daily for 23 years, ergotamine tartrate for migraine relief. FRP presented as a chronic inflammatory state, anemia, abdominal and lumbosacral pain and a hypogastric mass. A CT-Scan showed a periaortic mass and left hydronephrosis. A percutaneous biopsy was obtained and the patient was subjected to a surgical ureterolysis and tissue resection. The biopsy confirmed the presence of RPf. Due to persistent symptoms and increase in the volume of periaortic tissue, treatment with colchicine 1 mg/day and defazacort 30 mg/day was started, resulting in a rapid disappearance of symptoms, disappearance of inflammation and a significant reduction in the volume of the periaortic tissue. The patient remains in complete remission after 29 months of follow up.