A young woman with ergotism, a medieval disease, has been admitted to hospital. This rare pathology results from poisoning by ingestion of alkaloids produced by ergot.
- Rare case of 24-year-old woman with ergotism, known as ‘sacred fire disease’, reported by doctors
- Doctors found that his legs were cold and there was no pulse in the popliteal and dorsal arteries of the foot
- One of his toes had to be amputated due to gangrene
The rare case of a 24-year-old young woman suffering from ergotism, known as the “sacred fire disease”, a medieval disease first described in the 10th century, has been reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. Taking a strong and painful burning sensation in the legs, noting that her feet had changed color and that she was unable to walk, the young woman was taken to hospital.
A restriction of the arteries
On examining him, doctors found that his legs were cold and there was no pulse in the popliteal and dorsal foot arteries, which supply blood to the legs and feet. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a narrowing of the arteries.
Doctors then gave her a blood thinner, which increased blood flow to her legs, warming them and reducing the pain. Unfortunately, one of his toes had to be amputated due to gangrene. Treated against HIV, the patient may have developed this disease because of her drug ritonavir, which could have inhibited the CYP3A4 enzyme in her body and caused intoxication.
Hallucinations and seizures
Very widespread in the Middle Ages, egotism usually results from poisoning by ingestion of alkaloids produced by ergot (Claviceps purpurea) or other species of the genus Claviceps. The disease induces a restriction of blood circulation which can lead to gangrene, skin desquamation (skin that peels), hallucinations and/or seizures.
Ergotism could be at the origin of several “dancing epidemics”, including the one that set the city of Strasbourg ablaze in July 1518. At the time, several people had danced for 1 month in the streets without being able to stop, until death ensues. Also, what looked like dance moves could actually be a combination of convulsions and hallucinations.
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