Vascular insufficiency secondary to ergotism.

A case of ergot-induced peripheral vascular insufficiency mimicking atherosclerosis is presented and the clinical symptoms with vascular laboratory evaluation and roentgenographic findings are discussed in detail. A review of the literature of the vascular complications of ergot alkaloids is presented. After considering the various therapeutic modalities employed, a conservative, but hopefully more rational, treatment for these lesions is recommended. Although uncommon, this problem always must be considered in the differential diagnosis of the young patient, especially female, who presents with visceral or peripheral arterial insufficiency.