EFFECTS OF ERGOTAMINE ON MYOCARDIAL BLOOD-FLOW IN MIGRAINEURS WITHOUTEVIDENCE OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

The effects of intravenous ergotamine (0.25 mg) on basal and hyperemic (dipyridamole) myocardial blood flow (MBF), measured with positron em ission tomography and (H2O)-O-15, were assessed in 15 migraineurs in a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled, crossover study. Ergota mine produced a 27% reduction in hyperemic MBF (2.62 +/- 0.11 vs 3.72 +/- 1.05 ml.min(-1).g(-1); p <0.05), a 31% reduction in the coronary v asodilator reserve (1.81 +/- 0.50 vs 2.71 +/- 1.15; p <0.01), and a 55 % increase in minimal coronary resistance (42.2 +/- 15 vs 26.7 +/- 8 m m Hg.min.ml(-1)g(-1); p <0.001), suggesting vasoconstriction of the co ronary microcirculation.