What causes chorea disease?

Chorea can be caused by a variety of abnormal processes in the body, including metabolic derangements, exposure to certain drugs or toxins, genetic and degenerative diseases of the brain, infections, tumors, and disorders of the immune and inflammatory systems of the body.

What causes chorea disease?

Chorea can be caused by a variety of abnormal processes in the body, including metabolic derangements, exposure to certain drugs or toxins, genetic and degenerative diseases of the brain, infections, tumors, and disorders of the immune and inflammatory systems of the body.

What does chorea look like?

Chorea is an abnormal involuntary movement derived from the Greek word “dance”. It is characterized by brief, abrupt, irregular, unpredictable, non-stereotyped movements. In milder cases, chorea may appear purposeful. The patient often appears fidgety and clumsy.

What are the signs and symptoms of chorea?

Symptoms

  • Involuntary jerking or writhing movements (chorea)
  • Muscle problems, such as rigidity or muscle contracture (dystonia)
  • Slow or abnormal eye movements.
  • Impaired gait, posture and balance.
  • Difficulty with speech or swallowing.

What is the treatment for chorea?

Doctors prescribe deutetrabenazine (Austedo®) or tetrabenazine (Xenazine®) to control muscle movements of Huntington’s chorea. If chorea is part of a tardive dyskinesia syndrome, the medications valbenazine (Ingrezza®) and deutetrabenazine are usually considered.

How long does chorea last?

Sydenham chorea symptoms usually resolve within three weeks to six months. However, symptoms may last longer than one year.

Which part of the brain is affected in chorea?

Chorea and athetosis result from overactivity in the basal ganglia, the part of the brain that helps initiate and smooth out and coordinate intended (voluntary) movements initiated by nerve impulses from the brain.

Which drugs improve chorea?

Atypical neuroleptics include risperidone, olanzapine, clozapine, and quetiapine. Dopamine-depleting agents (eg, reserpine, tetrabenazine, deutetrabenazine), represent another option in the treatment of chorea. GABAergic drugs, such as clonazepam, gabapentin, and valproate, can be used as adjunctive therapy.

How is chorea treated?

If the chorea is severe, doctors can prescribe medication (for example, corticosteroids) to help control the movements. Doctors also prescribe antibiotics to kill the rheumatic fever infection. If chorea is caused by a medication, stopping the medication may help lessen the abnormal muscle movements.

What is senile chorea?

Senile chorea: A relatively mild and uncommon disorder that occurs in elderly adults and is characterized by choreic movements. Chorea refers to rapid complex body movements that look well-coordinated and purposeful but are, in fact, involuntary. Chorea was thought suggestive of a grotesque dance.