Ergotism presenting as restenosis following angioplasty

Ergotism may cause isolated lower-extremity arterial stenoses that appear amenable to angioplasty but that will recur if the causative agent is not withdrawn. A case of femoral-popliteal stenosis caused by surreptitious ergot ingestion is presented. The lesion initially responded to angioplasty but quickly recurred, whereupon discovery of ergot use and withdrawal of the compound led to the disappearance of symptoms.