[Skin necroses and ergotism after preventive administration of heparin-dihydroergotamine].

About 30 hours after prophylactic subcutaneous administration of heparin- dihydroergotamineto a 77-year-old man with generalized arteriosclerosis, extensive skin necroses developed at the injection sites and, after progressively increasing signs of mental disorientation, three days later there developed acute pulmonary oedemaand a large ischaemic infarct of the median cerebral arterywith hemiparesisand coma, which ended fatally. Skin necroses and ergotismare rare but serious complications of anticoagulant treatment.