St. Anthony's fire, then and now: a case report and historical review
Tanner, J.R.
Canadian Journal of Surgery. Journal Canadien de Chirurgie 30(4): 291-293
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-428X PMID: 3300918 Document Number: 298817
A rare case of morbid vasospasm, together with striking angiographic findings, is described secondary to the ingestion of methysergide by a 48-year-old woman. A brief review of the literature on similar cases is presented. A discussion of the history of ergot includes its original discovery, the epidemics of gangrene that it has caused through the ages and its past and present role in the management of migraine headache. Despite the advent of calcium channel blockers and beta-adrenergic antagonists, ergot preparations continue to play a major role in migraine therapy, so that the danger of St. Anthony's fire persists.