title: Parkinsonian signs and symptoms in adults with a history of Sydenham's chorea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sydenham's chorea is associated with dysfunction of fronto-striatal circuits induced by cross-reactive antibodies to group A β-hemolytic streptococcus. High susceptibility of extrapyramidal effects of neuroleptics in patients with Sydenham's chorea suggests underlying nigro-striatal dysfunction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the presence of parkinsonism in patients with a history of Sydenham's Chorea.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the UFMG Sydenham's Chorea Rating Scale (USCRS) and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part III, respectively, to determine the presence of chorea and parkinsonian symptoms and signs in 25 adults with a history of previous Sydenham's Chorea currently without chorea or use of anti-choreic drugs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bradykinesia was found in 64% of subjects. There was a statistically significant correlation between bradykinesia and hemichorea (-0.412; p = 0.036) and bradykinesia and generalized chorea (0.412; p = 0.036). There was no correlation between bradykinesia and use of anti-choreic drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bradykinesia is common in patients with Sydenham's Chorea in remission. This finding suggests an immune-mediated dysfunction of the nigro-striatal system.
authors: Movement Disorders Clinic, Neurology Service, Department of internal Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av Pasteur 89/1107, 30150-290 Belo Horizonte MG, Brazil.
authors: Leonardo Brandão
authors: LB
authors: Barreto
authors: Ricardo Oliveira Horta
authors: RO
authors: Maciel
authors: Débora P
authors: DP
authors: Maia
authors: Antonio Lúcio
authors: AL
authors: Teixeira
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002819:Chorea / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018476:Hypokinesia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult