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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2013; 61(05): 435-437
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1331580
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Cardiac Surgery for Ergotamine-Induced Multivalvular Heart Disease

George Lazopoulos
1   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Athens Medical Center, Athens, Greece
,
George Papaioannou
2   Department of Cardiology, Athens Medical Center, Athens, Greece
,
Michael Kantartzis
1   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Athens Medical Center, Athens, Greece
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

14 September 2012

28 September 2012

Publication Date:
08 March 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Ergotamine is used to abort or prevent vascular headache. Valvular heart disease as an adverse effect of long-term ergotamine therapy has been rarely reported in the English literature, with only a few cases published. It is hypothesized that ergot-derived agents stimulate serotonergic receptors (5-HT2B), causing proliferation of myofibroblasts, with subsequent thickening of valve leaflets and chords. This case presentation aims at increasing clinicians' awareness of this potential complication.

Keywords

ergotamine - cardiac valve - cardiac surgery
 

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