Acute myocardial infarction after ergonovine administration for uterine bleeding

Acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy and in the postpartum period is a rare occurrence of uncertain etiology.¹ It has been reported in women with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and systemic hypertension.² In women with normal coronary angiograms, however, no clear and consistent etiology can be found. A few cases did involve patients receiving ergot derivatives, but the events were poorly documented and established only by retrospective association. We report a patient who sustained an acute myocardial infarction after receiving methylergonovine for excessive uterine bleeding after a first trimester spontaneous abortion. The cardiac event was promptly recognized and treated, resulting in a relatively benign postmyocardial infarction course.