Adult-onset Sydenham’s chorea or drug-induced movement disorder? A case report

Excerpt

Drug-induced chorea is the most common form of acute-onset chorea in adults [1]. A possible association between oral contraceptives and chorea has been well established since their introduction in the 60s. This form of chorea is usually considered to be a reactivation of prior Sydenham’s chorea (SC) during childhood, but has equally been described in patients without a clear history of SC. In these latter cases, there is typically a history of other types of choreatic movement disorders such as chorea gravidarum or autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus [1]. This case report presents the onset of chorea associated to long-term use of oral contraceptives in a young woman without any previous history of movement disorders. …