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Sydenham's Chorea: A Clinical Follow-Up of 65 Patients

Department of Pediatrics, Cagri Tip Merkezi, Elazig, Turkey, kaandemiroren{at}yahoo.com

Haluk Yavuz, MD

Department of Pediatric Neurology, Selcuk University. Meram Medical Faculty, Konya, Turkey

Lokman Cam, MD

Tunceli State Hospital, Tunceli, Turkey

Bulent Oran, MD

Department of Pediatric Cardiology Selçuk University, Meram Medical Faculty, Konya, Turkey

Sevim Karaaslan, MD

Department of Pediatric Cardiology Selçuk University, Meram Medical Faculty, Konya, Turkey

Saadet Demiroren, MD

Department of Pediatrics, Sarahatun Dogumevi, Elazig, Turkey

Sydenham's chorea, the neurological manifestation of rheumatic fever, is the most common acquired chorea of childhood. In this retrospective study, the authors aim to present the clinical and laboratory findings of 65 Sydenham's chorea patients, followed up in a clinic over less than 7 years. The mean age at the onset of the symptoms was 11.7 ± 2.6 years (range, 6-17 years). Of the patients, 63% were female and 37% were male (male/female: 1.7/1). Chorea was generalized in 78.5% of the patients, right hemichorea in 12.3%, and left hemichorea 9.2%. There was a history of rheumatic fever in 30.8% of the patients. Echocardiographic study showed cardiac valve involvement in 70.5% of 61 patients. Brain magnetic resonance imaging, which was performed on only 18 patients, was evaluated as normal in all. Electroencephalography was also performed on only 18 patients and showed abnormal waves in 50% of them. Pimozide was mostly the first choice of drug therapy. Nevertheless, drug therapy was not needed in 18.5% of the patients. The recovery period of the first attack of the chorea was 1 to 6 months in 51.7% of the patients. The recurrence rate was 37.9%. In conclusion, Sydenham's chorea is still an important health problem in Turkey with respect to its morbidity.

Key Words: rheumatic fever • Sydenham's chorea

Journal of Child Neurology, Vol. 22, No. 5, 550-554 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0883073807302614


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