Abstract
Dihydroergotamine (DHE) was given to 20 gynecological patients, 0.5 mg i.m. preoperatively and again every twelfth hour for 7 days. No cases of thrombosis occurred as judged by the 125I-fibrinogen test. Increased concentrations, but within normal range, were found for fibrinogen, factor VIII activity and related antigen, plasminogen and antithrombin III and decreased concentration for α2-macroglobulin. The fibrinolytic activity of the wall of a superficial hand vein was not suppressed, which otherwise occurs postoperatively. Together with the increased concentration of antithrombin III this might explain the potentiating effect of DHE on prophylactic treatment with low-dose heparin.