Pediatric Neurology
Volume 32, Issue 3 , Pages 205-207, March 2005

Corticosteroid treatment in patients with Sydenham’s chorea

  • Judith Barash, MD

      Affiliations

    • Pediatric Rheumatology, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, affiliated to the Hadassah Medical School, the Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel.
    • Corresponding Author InformationCommunications should be addressed to:Dr. Barash; Pediatric Day Care; Kaplan Medical Center; Rehovot 76100, Israel.
    • ,
  • Dov Margalith, MD

      Affiliations

    • Pediatric Neurology, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, affiliated to the Hadassah Medical School, the Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel.
    • ,
  • Abraham Matitiau, MD

      Affiliations

    • Pediatric Cardiology services, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, affiliated to the Hadassah Medical School, the Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel.

Received 3 August 2004; accepted 22 September 2004. published online 25 January 2005.

Sydenham’s chorea occurs in approximately 10% of acute rheumatic fever and is one of its major manifestations. The disease may last for weeks or months, with a high risk of recurrence; usually only supportive treatment is recommended. This report describes five children diagnosed with Sydenham’s chorea and treated with a short course of corticosteroids. Marked improvement of the involuntary movements was observed within 24–48 hours, with complete resolution within 7–12 days after commencement of treatment; there were no relapses. Larger, possibly comparative studies are necessary, but in the meantime treatment with corticosteroids in patients with Sydenham’s chorea should be considered.

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PII: S0887-8994(04)00507-7

doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2004.09.012

Pediatric Neurology
Volume 32, Issue 3 , Pages 205-207, March 2005

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