Nonatherosclerotic Causes of Lower Extremity Claudication

Severe Reversible Arterial Spasm With Ergotamine

“…The spasm typically begins in the superficial femoral artery and progresses distally with occlusion, but may involve any arteries, including those of upper extremities and the central nervous system 2 . In our patient the location of the vasospastic reaction was more proximal in the common femoral artery, as seen on duplex scan.…”

“…It is a rare entity, encountered in 0.001%‐0.002% of patients using ergot derivatives for migraine, postparturition haemorrhage or deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis; it is most often seen in women in their late 30s 1 . It causes arterial spasm of the lower extremities, which may lead to severe ischaemia and impending gangrene by acting as both antagonist and partial agonist of adrenergic receptors, along with tryptaminergic receptors 1 , 2 …”

“…However, because of the sporadic nature of the syndrome, no therapy has been found to be consistently successful. A large number of therapeutic manoeuvres have been attempted, including direct‐acting vasodilators, α‐adrenergic blocking agents, calcium channel‐active agents, ganglionic blockage, rheologic agents, hyperbaric oxygen, mechanical (hydrostatic) dilatation and intravenous sodium nitroprus‐side 2 , 4 . Attempts at sympathetic blockade of the lumbar chain have been reported previously to be unsuccessful at reversing ergotism 5 .…”

Abdominal aortic peripheral intervention to facilitate intra-aortic balloon pump support during high risk percutaneous coronary intervention: a case report

“…Abdominal aortic stenosis has an overall incidence of 1 in 62,500 [ 7 ]. The treatment of abdominal aortic stenosis ranges from surgical therapy, with aortoiliac endarterectomy or aortobifemoral bypass, to endovascular therapy, with balloon angioplasty or stenting [ 8 ].…”