[Iatrogenic ergotism. Apropos of a case]

A 36 year-old woman was given Ergotamine Tartrate 4.5 mg p.d. during seven days, after an abortion (a still birth). Subsequently she developed a generalised arterial spasm of the limbs producing a feet necrosis. A transmetatarsal amputation was performed. This observation and 63 others cases in the litterature call attention to the potential dangers of the ergot derivatives (ergotamine tartrate), even at normally accepted therapeutic doses. Arteriolar thrombosis and subsequent tissular gangrene can be presented by early administration of heparin, dextran infusions and, possibles, hyperbaric oxygen. Among the vasodilatation drugs, only sodium nitroprussiate seems to be effective.