RECURRENT HORMONE DEPENDENT CHOREA: EFFECTS OF OESTROGENS AND PROGESTOGENS

Abstract

A case of hemi-chorea is described in a young woman, initially following administration of an oral contraceptive pill and recurring in a subsequent early pregnancy. The chorea ceased with the removal of the etiological factor on each occasion. Subsequent challenge with a combined estrogen/progestogen pill resulted in recurrence of the chorea, but the patient was successfully maintained on a progestogen without any further symptoms. The estrogen component was the probable precipitating factor for the chorea.