Reversible dementia and chorea in a young woman with the lupus anticoagulant.
A 22-year-old woman gradually developed depression, dementia, and chorea over an 8-month period. She fulfilled the criteria for the primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome but not those for systemic lupus erythematosus. Her chorea and neurobehavioral deficits responded favorably to a regimen of prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, and aspirin. This appears to be the first report of a patient with a lupus anticoagulant and reversible dementia. The response to immunosuppressive therapy implies an antibody-mediated condition similar to Sydenham's chorea.
Van Horn
G
G
Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (Medical School), USA.
Arnett
F C
FC
Dimachkie
M M
MM
D000328:Adult; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D002819:Chorea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000032:analysis*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000209:etiology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine; D001241:Aspirin; D011241:Prednisone