[New aspects in the treatment of puerperal mastitis (author's transl)]

36 women with postpartal breast engorgement were treated with a single oral dose of 2.5 mg bromocriptine (Pravidel). Significant relief was recorded in 28 patients, 6 patients required a second dose of 2.5 mg bromocriptine, whereas 2 patients failed to respond. Antibiotics were at first avoided in the treatment of puerperal mastitis. 26 patients with all characteristics of breast inflammation were treated exclusively with bromocriptine: for 3 days 2.5 mg t.i.d., for the following 11 days 2.5 mg twice daily. The temperature dropped below 37C in 25 patients within 12-24 hours, tension and pain disappearing simultaneously. One patient did not respond after 36 hours, so that an antibiotic was administered additionally; in another patient who had been admitted to the hospital six days after the onset of the clinical symptoms of breast inflammation, bromocriptine failed to prevent abscess formation. The results indicate that in most cases of puerperal breast inflammation no antibiotics are required. Puerperal mastitis can be treated effectively by the exclusive administration of bromocriptine.