Ocular ergotamine tartrate toxicity during treatment of Vacor-induced orthostatic hypotension.

Abstract

A 20-year-old woman developed severe orthostatic hypotension after attempting suicide by ingesting the rodenticide, Vacor. Oral ergotamine tartrate, 6 mg a day, was useful in treating the orthostatic hypotension. However, a bilateral toxic retinal vasculopathy, consisting of a severe generalized vasoconstriction and mild macular edema, occurred within three weeks. Additional findings were an extinguished electroretinogram and a reduced dark-adaptation retinal sensitivity; because we performed these two tests after instituting ergotamine therapy we do not know whether to attribute their abnormal results to Vacor toxicity, ergotamine toxicity, or a combination of the two.

• Authors: J S Mindel, A E Rubenstein, B Franklin
• Journal: American journal of ophthalmology (Am J Ophthalmol) Vol. 92 Issue 4 Pg. 492-6 (Oct 1981) ISSN: 0002-9394 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6794371 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Ergotamines
• Phenylurea Compounds
• Rodenticides
• Ergotamine
• pyriminil

Topics

• Adult
• Dark Adaptation (drug effects)
• Electroretinography
• Ergotamine
• Ergotamines (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypotension, Orthostatic (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Phenylurea Compounds (poisoning)
• Retinal Vessels (drug effects)
• Rodenticides (poisoning)
• Vision Disorders (chemically induced)