[Chorea and the use of contraceptives]

A 20-year-old nullipara without previous history of chorea or rheumatic fever developed unilateral chorea 11 months after first taking oral contraceptives. All laboratory findings were normal except for considerable elevation of the triglycerides. Complete remission of the extrapyramidal disorder occurred within 4 months of discontinuing the contraceptive preparation. It is suggested that the contraceptive steroids may influence some metabolic events which produce vascular changes.