ergotism/dopamine

A 40 year old woman who took a daily dose of 2-4 mg of Ergotamine Tartrate (Cafergot) regularly for 6 years to combat persistent migraine, was treated for a non-atherosclerotic arterial disease, severe arteriospasm of the great limb arteries, hyperplasia of the intima and segmental thrombosis.

Ergotamine, being a representative of naturally occurring ergoline alkaloids, derived from d-lysergic acid, and nicergoline, a d-lumilysergic acid derivative belonging to semi-synthetic ergot-derived alkaloids, display diversified affinity for adrenergic, serotoninergic, and dopamine receptors.

Chorea is uncommonly caused by toxins. Anecdotal evidence from cases of toxin-induced chorea assists in our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases associated with chorea. Beginning in medieval Europe with ergotism and the "fire that twisted people," spanning to crack dancing in contemporary

Molds are ubiquitous throughout the biosphere of planet earth and cause infectious, allergic, and toxic diseases. Toxic diseases arise from exposure to mycotoxins produced by molds. Throughout history, there have been a number of toxic epidemics associated with exposure to mycotoxins. Acute