Chorea

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Chorea
SpecialtyNeurology Edit this on Wikidata

Chorea (or choreia, occasionally) is an abnormal involuntary

Ancient Greek: χορεία ("dance"; see choreia
), as the quick movements of the feet or hands are comparable to dancing.

The term hemichorea refers to chorea of one side of the body, such as chorea of one arm but not both (analogous to hemiballismus).

Presentation

Chorea is characterized by brief, semi-directed, irregular movements that are not repetitive or rhythmic, but appear to flow from one muscle to the next. These 'dance-like' movements of chorea often occur with

ballism, or ballismus.[citation needed
]

Causes

Huntington's disease

cognitive decline and behavioural change.[1]

Other genetic causes

Other genetic causes of chorea are rare. They include the classical Huntington's disease 'mimic' or

Acquired causes

The most common acquired causes of chorea are cerebrovascular disease and, in the developing world, HIV infection—usually through its association with cryptococcal disease.[2]

Sydenham's chorea occurs as a complication of streptococcal infection. Twenty percent (20%) of children and adolescents with rheumatic fever develop Sydenham's chorea as a complication. It is increasingly rare, which may be partially due to penicillin, improved social conditions, and/or a natural reduction in the bacteria (Streptococcus) it has stemmed from. Psychological symptoms may precede or accompany this acquired chorea and may be relapsing and remitting. The broader spectrum of paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection can cause chorea and are collectively referred to as PANDAS.[2]

Chorea gravidarum refers to choreic symptoms that occur during pregnancy. If left untreated, the disease resolves in 30% of patients before delivery but, in the other 70%, it persists. The symptoms then progressively disappear in the next few days following the delivery.[2]

Chorea may also be caused by drugs (commonly

anti-psychotics).[2]

Other acquired causes include

.

Treatment

There is no standard course of treatment for chorea. Treatment depends on the type of chorea and the associated disease. Although there are many drugs that can control it, no cure has yet been identified.

Form Treatment
Huntington's-related A common treatment is dopaminergic antagonists, although treatment is largely supportive. Tetrabenazine is the only FDA approved drug for the treatment of Huntington's disease-related chorea.
Sydenham's chorea
valproic acid. Usually involves antibiotic
drugs to treat the infection, followed by drug therapy to prevent recurrence.
Chorea gravidarum haloperidol,[5][6][7] chlorpromazine alone or in combination with diazepam, also pimozide can also be used.
Wilson's disease Reducing levels of copper in the body using D-
trientine hydrochloride, tetrathiomolybdate, and other chelating
agents
Drug-induced chorea Adjusting medication dosages.
Metabolic and endocrine-related choreas Treated according to their causes.

History

Historically, choreas like Huntington disease and Sydenham's chorea were called Saint Vitus' dance, related to a series of social phenomena of the same name.[8]

See also

Notes

External links

This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article: Chorea. Articles is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license; additional terms may apply.Privacy Policy