RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Chorea induced by oral contraceptives
JF Neurology
JO Neurology
FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
SP 1605
OP 1609
DO 10.1212/WNL.29.12.1605
VO 29
IS 12
A1 Nausieda, Paul A.
A1 Koller, William C.
A1 Weiner, William J.
A1 Klawans, Harold L.
YR 1979
UL http://n.neurology.org/content/29/12/1605.abstract
AB 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.