The Journal of Emergency Medicine, Vol. -, No. -, pp.

1–3, 2019
Ó 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
0736-4679/$ - see front matter

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2019.02.012

Clinical
Communications: Pediatric

SYDENHAM’S CHOREA

Brian L. Risavi, DO, MS, FACEP, FAAEM, FACOEP, CEMSO, PHP, Erik Iszkula, MD, and Bryan Yost, DO
Department of Emergency Medicine, UPMC Hamot, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Erie, Pennsylvania
Reprint Address: Brian L. Risavi, DO, MS, Department of Emergency Medicine, UPMC Hamot, 201 State Street, Erie, PA 16550

, Abstract—Background: Sydenham’s chorea is the most , Keywords—neurology; Sydenham’s chorea; group A

common acquired movement disorder of adolescence. This streptococcus
clinical manifestation of acute rheumatic fever has a clear
and documented relationship with Group A streptococcal
infections. The symptoms are involuntary choreiform move-
ments that can affect the face and all extremities. The path- INTRODUCTION
ophysiology remains unclear. Case Report: A 12-year-old
female was brought to the emergency department with a Sydenham’s chorea (SC) is most commonly due to a mani-
2-week history of involuntary muscle spasms of her right festation of rheumatic fever in children, with a mean age of
arm and leg. Her parents reported intermittent slurred 11 years (1). The differential diagnosis includes systemic
speech and difficulty grasping utensils. Physical examina- lupus erythematosus, drug intoxication, Wilson’s disease,
tion revealed an awake, alert, age-appropriate female with familial chorea, and hyperthyroidism. It is characterized
normal cranial nerves. Patient was found to have choreoa- by involuntary choreiform movements, including facial
thetoid movements on the right extremities with dystonia
grimacing, hypotonia, muscle weakness, gait disturbance,
of right leg with ambulation. Neurology consultation,
and difficulty writing/speaking. Involuntary movements
computed tomography of the head, and magnetic resonance
imaging of the brain did not show any acute pathology. are exacerbated by stress and resolve during sleep.
Echocardiogram did show mild tricuspid regurgitation, sug- Although the exact pathophysiology remains unclear, it is
gestive of rheumatic fever. Anti-streptolysin O titer was postulated that antibodies against Group A b-hemolytic
markedly elevated, along with DNAse-B antibodies. The pa- streptococcus (GABHS) cross-react with neurons of the
tient had marked improvement of movement disorder at basal ganglia (2). These anti-basal antibodies signal induc-
just over 1 week later. Why Should An Emergency Physician tion of kinase II enzymes, resulting in the release of dopa-
Be Aware of This?: Sydenham’s chorea is a rare but impor- mine with the resultant movement disorder. Serum
tant movement disorder often related to Group A strepto- anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titers are typically elevated
coccus and rheumatic fever. The incidence of rheumatic and peak at about 3–5 weeks post-infection, declining
fever has been decreasing in North America but continues
thereafter (1). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the
to be much more prevalent in developing countries as well
brain excludes other etiologies. SC is generally self-
as immigrant populations. This diagnosis is rare and can oc-
casionally be misdiagnosed as a ‘‘fidgety’’ child or as a psy- limiting, with a mean duration ranging from 2–4 months
chiatric manifestation. Sydenham’s chorea is important to up to 6–7 months. Treatment includes high-dose cortico-
diagnose because acute treatment and prophylactic antibi- steroids, penicillin treatment of GABHS infection, valproic
otics can help improve symptoms and minimize cardiac acid, and neuroleptics. Immunotherapy with i.v. immuno-
damage. Ó 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. globulin and plasmapheresis is used in severe cases (3,4).

RECEIVED: 7 November 2018; FINAL SUBMISSION RECEIVED: 6 February 2019;

ACCEPTED: 10 February 2019
2 B. L. Risavi et al.

CASE REPORT as carditis and arthritis, which typically happen within

3 weeks. The symptoms of SC are often seen without
A 12-year-old female presented with a 2-week history of other symptoms of rheumatic fever (9,10). Chorea often
involuntary muscle spasms of her right arm/leg. Her right occurs insidiously, but worsens over hours to days.
foot began to ‘‘rotate in and out’’ with ambulation. Her Patients often state that the movements are involuntary
parents reported intermittent slurred speech and difficulty and not driven by compulsion. The patients are often
grasping utensils when attempting to eat. Her attention described as restless in appearance. Cranial nerve
span began to diminish to the point her parents had to function is not affected.
repeat things to her. She had no medical history and no Physical examination typically consists of four
recent illnesses. She denied any tobacco, alcohol, or different motor tests: spooning, touchdown, milkmaid’s
drug use. Family history included rheumatoid arthritis, grip, and darting tongue (11). These four maneuvers typi-
heart disease, thyroid disease, and diabetes mellitus. Ex- cally expose the characteristic movements of SC. Gener-
amination revealed the patient to be awake and alert with ally, there should be no sensory loss on examination. Gait
normal cranial nerves. Choreoathetoid movements were is typically described as unsteady due to the chorea in the
noted in the right arm/leg. Dystonic movement was noted muscles that enable movement. Diagnostic evaluation
in the right leg with ambulation. Computed tomography should be aimed at diagnosing acute rheumatic fever.
(CT) of the head was normal, as was MRI of the brain. Testing should be completed to look for GAS infection,
Echocardiogram revealed mild tricuspid regurgitation, along with cardiac evaluation. Throat cultures are often
suggestive of rheumatic fever. ASO titer was markedly obtained along with blood test for streptococcal anti-
elevated at 680 IU/mL. DNAse-B antibodies were also bodies, such as ASO and anti-deoxyribonuclease B. Car-
elevated at 960 U/mL. Thyroid-stimulating hormone, diac testing should include electrocardiogram and
rheumatoid factor, ceruloplasmin, and lyme titer were echocardiogram. Neurologic evaluation, such as CT
all normal. The patient received corticorsteroids, valproic scan of the head or MRI of the brain and lumbar puncture,
acid, pimozide, and i.v. immunoglobulin and was mark- can also help to rule out other neurologic and psychiatric
edly improved at discharge just more than 1 week later. mimics.
She continued to receive monthly penicillin prophylaxis. The clinical diagnosis is made based on the character-
istics of the disease, along with the absence of other diag-
DISCUSSION nostic causes. The presence of recent GAS infection or
carditis on examination help support the diagnosis, but
SC, or rheumatic chorea, is one of the clinical manifesta- is not necessary to establish the diagnosis. Differential
tions of acute rheumatic fever. This is the most common diagnosis includes many other autoimmune diseases,
acquired chorea of adolescence. SC is a movement disor- such as viral or autoimmune encephalitis, cerebrovascu-
der that is characterized by involuntary choreiform move- lar accident, hyperthyroidism, or reaction to drugs, espe-
ments, which can include facial grimacing, hypotonia, cially those interacting with dopamine receptors.
muscle weakness, gait disturbance, and difficulty with Treatment of patients diagnosed with SC typically
writing and speaking. Affected patients can develop consist of chronic antibiotic therapy. This helps to both
tics, dysarthria, hypotonia, muscular weakness, and vo- prevent recurrence and minimize cardiac damage. Some
calizations. SC is often accompanied by psychologic patients can also benefit from medications designed to
symptoms, such as emotional lability, obsessive- treat the movement symptoms or steroids to inhibit the
compulsiveness, anxiety, and depression. The chorea immune system. Antibiotics are generally chosen for
generally develops subacutely and is usually bilateral, their ability to treat GAS infections. Dopamine 2 receptor
although 20–30% can have hemichorea. The patient’s blocking agents have been used to treat the movement
mental status is typically normal, however, SC is often disorder symptoms with or without anticholinergics.
misdiagnosed as mental or psychiatric disease. Treatment of SC is based on severity of symptoms.
SC has a clear and documented relationship to group A Given the low incidence, large double-blinded placebo-
streptococcal (GAS) infections, however, its exact patho- controlled trials are lacking. Treatment side-effect
genesis is not completely understood (5). It is believed profiles remain an important consideration. The most
that antibodies directed against part of the Group A strep- appropriate treatment strategy is with penicillin, carba-
tococcus that then cross-reacts with the lysoganglioside of mazepine/valproic acid, and steroids. Immunomodula-
the neuronal cell (6,7). These antibodies then trigger a tory therapy, using i.v. immunoglobulin/plasmapheresis,
signaling cascade that leads to the pathologic movements. should be reserved for refractory cases (12).
SC usually occurs 1–8 months after the inciting infec- SC typically improves gradually, with most patients
tion (8). This is in direct contrast to the other common reaching full recovery. Mean duration of symptoms are
clinical manifestations of acute rheumatic fevers, such typically 12–15 weeks (13,14). Chorea does re-occur in
Sydenham’s Chorea 3

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GAS infection and SC does increase the risk for chronic
6. Husby G, van de Rijn I, Zabriskie JB, et al. Antibodies reacting with
rheumatic heart disease. cytoplasm of subthalamic and caudate nuclei neurons in chorea and
acute rheumatic fever. J Exp Med 1976;144:1094–110.
7. Kotby AA, El Badawy N, El Sokkary S, Moawad H, El
WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE Shawarby M. Antineuronal antibodies in rheumatic chorea. Clin Di-
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festation of rheumatic fever—a 30-year survey (1960-1990). Eur J
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11. Gilbert DL. Sydenham’s chorea. UpToDate. Available at: https://
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