Chorea
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What is Chorea?Is there any treatment?What is the prognosis?What research is being done?OrganizationsWhat is Chorea?
Chorea is an abnormal voluntary movement disorder, one of a group of neurological disorders called dyskinesias, which are caused by overactivity of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the areas of the brain that control movement. Chorea
is characterized by brief, irregular contractions that are not repetitive or rhythmic, but appear to flow from one muscle
to the next. Chorea often occurs with athetosis, which adds twisting and writhing movements. Chorea is a primary feature of Huntington's disease, a progressive, hereditary movement disorder that appears in adults, but it may also occur in a variety of other conditions.
Syndenham's chorea occurs in a small percentage (20 percent) of children and adolescents as a complication of rheumatic fever. Chorea can also
be induced by drugs (levodopa, anti-convulsants, and anti-psychotics) metabolic and endocrine disorders, and vascular incidents.
Is there any treatment?
There is no standard course of treatment for chorea. Treatment depends on the type of chorea and the associated disease. Treatment
for Huntington's disease is supportive, while treatment for Syndenham's chorea usually involves antibiotic drugs to treat
the infection, followed by drug therapy to prevent recurrence. Adjusting medication dosages can treat drug-induced chorea.
Metabolic and endocrine-related choreas are treated according to the cause(s) of symptoms.
What is the prognosis?
The prognosis for individuals with chorea varies depending on the type of chorea and the associated disease. Huntington's
disease is a progressive, and ultimately, fatal disease. Syndenham's chorea is treatable and curable.
What research is being done?
The NINDS supports research on movement disorders such as chorea. The goals of this research are to increase understanding
of these disorders and to find ways to prevent and treat them.
Select this link
to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.
Organizations
Prepared by:
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
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Last updated May 09, 2007
