Cholestatic jaundice prolonged by oral contraceptives

The case history of a 23-year-old woman who developed a prolonged case of cholestatic jaundice after taking Lyndiol is described. Because of the presence of pruritus prior to jaundice the rapid elevation of serum cholesterol and the absence of necrosis in liver biopsies an etiological relationship between the condition and the contraceptive was established. Dilated bile capillaries and mega mitochondria with crystalline inclusions Australia antigens and negative antimitochondrial antibodies were also found. Laparotomy revealed a patent biliary tract and a cholestatic liver.(Authors modified)