Management of rheumatic chorea: an observational study.
BACKGROUND
Rheumatic chorea (RC) has recently been linked to an antibody-mediated immune mechanism.


OBJECTIVE
To verify if this knowledge reflected in management changes we conceived a descriptive study.


RESULTS
The medical charts of 20 children (13 females) aged 6 to 12 years (mean 8 years), diagnosed as RC from June 1996 to June 1999, were reviewed. All patients received some medical treatment. Haloperidol was the most prescribed medication (15 patients - 75 %). Sulpiride, diazepam and valproate were also used as symptomatic treatment. Immune-modulating therapy with prednisone was prescribed for seven children. The shortest course of chorea (16 days) occurred in a patient treated with prednisone.


CONCLUSIONS
Prednisone has been prescribed for rheumatic chorea besides the traditional symptomatic approach. A great variety of antichoreic drugs are being employed.
Araujo
Alexandra Prufer de Queiroz Campos
AP
Serviço de Neurologia, Instituto de Puericultura e Pediatria Martagão Gesteira, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. alexprufer@hotmail.com
Padua
Paula Assunção Brito
PA
Maia Filho
Heber Souza
HS
D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002819:Chorea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents; D014635:Valproic Acid; D013469:Sulpiride; D006220:Haloperidol; D003975:Diazepam