Pleural fibrosis associated with dihydroergocryptine treatment.
OBJECTIVE
This is the first report of a histologically confirmed pleuropulmonary fibrosis (PPF) associated with the dopamine agonist dihydroergocryptine.


METHODS
A 67-year-old male patient with Parkinson's disease developed a severe restrictive pulmonary disorder with dyspnea and nonproductive cough after a daily intake of 45 mg dihydroergocryptine for 2 years. After changing the dopamine agonist to the non-ergoline substance pramipexole, marked improvement of the clinical symptoms of PPF occurred, while radiological signs showed only a moderate decrease.


CONCLUSIONS
PPF is a possibly fatal complication. Chest X-rays and specific pneumological diagnostics should be done if typical symptoms or nonspecific signs of PPF occur while a patient is on treatment with an ergoline dopamine agonist.
Oechsner
M
M
Neurologische Klinik, Universitaetskrankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Groenke
L
L
Mueller
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004873:Ergolines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077487:Pramipexole; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004873:Ergolines; D013844:Thiazoles; C100269:ergocryptine; D000077487:Pramipexole