[Pleural fibrosis as a side effect of years-long methysergide therapy].

Abstract

A 58-year-old man was admitted to hospital because of exertional dyspnoea and a cardiac murmur not previously heard. For one year he was known to have left-sided fibrinous pleuritis. For 5 years he had been taking methysergide for cluster headaches. From 1950-1980 he had worked with asbestos-containing insulating material. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was greatly increased to 117/136 mm and there was an hypochromic anaemia (Hb 10.4 g/dl). The cholestasis enzymes were elevated (gamma-GT 88 U/l; alkaline phosphatase 511 U/l). Computed tomography of the thorax demonstrated left-sided pleural thickening of up to 3 cm. Endocarditis was excluded (sterile blood culture; normal echocardiogram). There was no evidence of an infectious, immunological or malignant cause for the pleural fibrosis. One year after pleurectomy and having discontinued methysergide all biochemical tests were normal.

• Authors: R Müller, P Weller, A Chemaissani
• Journal: Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946) (Dtsch Med Wochenschr) Vol. 116 Issue 38 Pg. 1433-6 (Sep 20 1991) ISSN: 0012-0472 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Pleurafibrose als Nebenwirkung einer langjährigen Methysergid-Therapie.
• PMID: 1893855 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Propranolol
• Methysergide

Topics

• Biopsy
• Cluster Headache (complications, drug therapy)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Endocarditis, Subacute Bacterial (diagnosis)
• Fibrosis (chemically induced, diagnosis, therapy)
• Humans
• Lung (pathology)
• Male
• Methysergide (adverse effects)
• Middle Aged
• Pleura (pathology, surgery)
• Pleurisy (chemically induced, diagnosis, therapy)
• Propranolol (therapeutic use)
• Time Factors