title: Case series: increased vulnerability to obsessive-compulsive symptoms with repeated episodes of Sydenham chorea.
abstract: The association between obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and Sydenham chorea (SC) supports the hypothesis of a common neuroimmunological dysfunction in basal ganglia associated with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection underlying both conditions. Four children with 2 distinct SC episodes were evaluated to assess the course of OCS. All patients developed OCS during their second episodes (3 met criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder [OCD]), but not in their first episodes (2 developed OCS and met criteria for OCD). These data suggest that the recurrence of SC episodes may result in a cumulative effect, thus increasing the risk of appearance and intensification of OCS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil. frasbahr@usp.br
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Asbahr
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Negrão
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gentil
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002819:Chorea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology