title: Bromocriptine related atypical vascular accidents postpartum identified through medicolegal reviews.
abstract: Recent literary case reports indicate that bromocriptine mesylate, when used for the suppression of lactation in the puerperium, can cause serious and even lethal side effects. The untoward sequelae are attributed to generalized or focal vasospasm affecting the cardiac and/or cerebral bold vessels. Apart from pre-existing hypertension and use in association with other ergot derivatives, the factors predisposing to such complications have not been elucidated, The authors present three atypical bromocriptine related postpartum accidents which may expand the understanding both of the predisposing factors and the potential consequences of bromocriptine related severe side effects. One of the cases raises the suspicion that the manifestations of hyperthyroidism may be aggravated by this method of pharmacologic ablactation. Another observation appears to imply that the drug may trigger the onset of chronic hypertension in women so predisposed. The development of cerebral infarcts, identified by MRI, in a clinically asymptomatic woman, exemplifies the threat of recurrent seizure activity in cases of bromocriptine related stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology-New Jersey Medical School Newark, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iffy
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McArdle
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ganesh
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hopp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015984:Causality; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007603:Jurisprudence; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D001971:Bromocriptine