Oral contraceptives and cerebral arterial occlusion.

A study was undertaken at the National Hospital Queen Square London to examine the figures for proven cerebral arterial occlusion occurring between January 1 1955 and June 30 1965 to determine how many women with such occlusions were on oral contraceptives and to see if there were any detectable change in the incidence of occlusion in women in the reporductive period of life. Of the 315 cases of cerebral arterial occlusion at the hospital 39 were in women 18-45 years old. 21 occurred before oral contraception introduction in 1961 and 18 occurred after 1961. 3 to 4 of the 18 patients developed their symptoms within a few weeks of starting oral contraceptives. 2 of the 4 patients had a previous arterial occlusive episode. It is noted that any possible causal relationship between oral contraceptives and cerebral arterial occlusion can only be demonstrated in patients by a prospective long-term study.