Myocardial infarction after chronic ergotamine abuse.

As a result of chronic ergotamine abuse, reversible arterial narrowing has been document angiographically in peripheral, but not in coronary arteries. We report on a patient with no cardiovascular risk factors, but because of chronic ergotamine abuse suffered an acute myocardial infarction, complicated by ventricular fibrillation. Coronary angiography performed 3 days after resuscitation revealed a distal occlusion of the left anterior descending artery. Three months later, spontaneous recanalization had occurred, and no residual narrowing was seen angiographically. Thus, surveillance of patients with migraine headache to avoid chronic ergotamine abuse is recommended to prevent cardiovascular complications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]