Evaluation of Patients with an Initial Diagnosis of Chorea: Sydenham Chorea and Differential Diagnoses

Objective: Our aim is to evaluate patients being referred with an initial diagnosis of chorea according to their clinical, laboratory features and final diagnoses while emphasizing cardiological findings of patients with Sydenham chorea. Method: Children aged 4-18 years who were referred to Okmeydanı Research and Training Hospital Pediatric Neurology department with an initial diagnosis of acute, subacute chorea between January 2017-January 2020 were retrospectively included. Chronic chorea and diseases associated with chronic chorea were excluded from the study. Data concerning clinical, laboratory features, cardiological findings, etiologies, treatments, recurrence rates and follow-ups of patients were recorded. Descriptive statistical analysis were performed using SPSS 21.0. Results: Fifteen patients has been referred with the initial diagnosis of chorea. Mean age of the patients was 11.5±2.2 years. Ten (67%) patients were females, 5 (33%) patients were male. After admission, 8 (54%) patients were diagnosed with Sydenham chorea, and 2 (13%) patients with recurrent Sydenham chorea. During physical examination, 5 (33%) patients did not have chorea, and 3 cases had tic disorder. Out of 8 patients with new diagnosis of Sydenham chorea, 3 (37.5%) patients had subclinical carditis, and 5 (62.5%) patients clinical carditis. Chorea had been treated with one of haloperidol/biperiden, valproic acid and prednisolon options. The treatment of 6 patients attending regular follow-up visits was stopped 2-6 months later. Chorea of two patients recurred during our follow-up, and one of our newly diagnosed Sydenham chorea patients had been recognized as antiphospholipid antibody syndrome after recurrence. Conclusion: Sydenham chorea is the most common cause of acquired chorea in childhood. Most of the time it is self limiting. Differential diagnosis of chorea must be kept in mind especially when there is a recurrence.