Treatment of Sydenham chorea with corticosteroids.
Despite treatment with valproic acid and neuroleptics, a significant proportion of patients with Sydenham chorea (SC) remain with chorea. We evaluated the effect of intravenous methyl-prednisolone followed by oral prednisone in patients with SC refractory to conventional treatment. Patients were enrolled in the study if they failed to improve with conventional treatment, despite the development of side effects. Chorea was rated on a 0 to 4 score. Five patients, 3 of them women, were included in the study. The median pretreatment rating score of the chorea was 3 (range, 3-4) and dropped to 1 (range, 0-2) after a median follow-up of 7 months (range, 3-7 months). Two patients developed Cushing syndrome. Our data suggest that intravenous methyl-prednisolone followed by oral prednisone is an effective and well-tolerated treatment of refractory SC.
Cardoso
Francisco
F
Movement Disorders Clinic, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. cardosof@metalink.com.br
Maia
Débora
D
Cunningham
Mauro César Q S
MC
Valença
Guilherme
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002819:Chorea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone