Abstract
A rare complication of oral contraceptive therapy is the induction of chorea. We here describe five cases of chorea in patients receiving lowor high-dose estrogen-containing contraceptives. All patients were nulliparous, young (average age 19 years), and became symptomatic shortly (average of 5 weeks) after initiation of contraceptive therapy. Two patients previously suffered an episode of Sydenham chorea; one experienced chorea in the course of Henoch-Schonlein purpura; and two had a history of congenital cyanotic heart disease without chorea. Dyskinesia resolved in all patients upon discontinuing the medication. Patients with preexisting striatal abnormalities appear more susceptible to oral contraceptive-induced chorea which is reversible on drug discontinuation. The mechanism of oral contraceptive-induced chorea is unknown, but clinical and experimental data suggest that it involves altered central dopaminergic activity.
- ©1979Advanstar Communications, Inc.
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