Pleural fibrosis associated with dihydroergocryptine treatment.

OBJECTIVES

This is the first report of a histologically confirmed pleuropulmonary fibrosis (PPF) associated with the dopamine agonist dihydroergocryptine.

CASE REPORT

A 67-year-old male patient with Parkinson's disease developed a severe restrictive pulmonary disorder with dyspnea and nonproductive cough after a daily intake of 45 mg dihydroergocryptine for 2 years. After changing the dopamine agonist to the non-ergoline substance pramipexole, marked improvement of the clinical symptoms of PPF occurred, while radiological signs showed only a moderate decrease.

CONCLUSION

PPF is a possibly fatal complication. Chest X-rays and specific pneumological diagnostics should be done if typical symptoms or nonspecific signs of PPF occur while a patient is on treatment with an ergoline dopamine agonist.