Increased anti-saccade latency is an isolated lingering abnormality in Sydenham chorea.
Sydenham chorea (SC) is an autoimmune response to group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection whose clinical and imaging manifestations usually resolve within 6 months. We used ocular motor analysis and neuropsychologic assessment to investigate residual striatal dysfunction in two individuals with histories of childhood SC whose most recent episodes of chorea had occurred 5 and 17 years before testing. Compared with the performance of 33 age-matched control subjects, both SC subjects showed significantly increased anti-saccade latencies. These findings support recent theories that acute episodes of SC may cause long-term corticostriatal changes in some individuals.
Cairney
Sheree
S
Menzies School of Health Research (SC, BJC), Institute of Advanced Studies, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia. sheree.cairney@menzies.edu.au
Maruff
Paul
P
Currie
Jon
J
Currie
Bart J
BJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology; D002819:Chorea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult