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Cappellari AM, Rogani G, Filocamo G, Petaccia A. Corticosteroid Treatment in Sydenham Chorea: A 27-Year Tertiary Referral Center Experience. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:children10020262. [PMID: 36832391 PMCID: PMC9955750 DOI: 10.3390/children10020262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of corticosteroid therapy for children suffering from Sydenham chorea (SC). METHODS The design of the study was observational, retrospective and conducted at the single center of the Rheumatology Unit of Policlinic Hospital of Milan, Italy, from May 1995 to May 2022. All data about the patients were collected from medical records. RESULTS From a total of 59 patients enrolled in the study (44 females and 15 males; median age 9.3 years, range 7.4-10.6 years), 49 were eligible for primary outcome analysis (10 patients were excluded due to incomplete data). Overall, 75% of patients received steroid therapy, while the remaining cases were treated with symptomatic drugs, including neuroleptics and antiseizure drugs. We found that the duration of chorea was significantly shorter in patients treated with corticosteroids in comparison to those receiving symptomatic treatment (median time: 31 vs. 41 days, p = 0.023). Additionally, patients with arthritis at the onset of the disease had a longer duration of chorea than those without arthritis (median time 90.5 vs. 39 days, p = 0.02). We also found that chorea recurred in 12% of the patients and seemed to be linked to a younger age at onset (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The study suggests that corticosteroid therapy can lead to a faster resolution of SC when compared to neuroleptics and antiseizure drugs treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Maria Cappellari
- Department of Neuroscience, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-025-503-2406
| | - Greta Rogani
- Department of Pediatrics, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Filocamo
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Petaccia
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
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Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders in Patients with Rheumatic Heart Disease: Unveiling what is Beyond Cardiac Manifestations. Glob Heart 2022; 17:62. [PMID: 36199561 PMCID: PMC9438462 DOI: 10.5334/gh.1149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Teixeira AL, Vasconcelos LP, Nunes MDCP, Singer H. Sydenham's chorea: from pathophysiology to therapeutics. Expert Rev Neurother 2021; 21:913-922. [PMID: 34353207 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2021.1965883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Sydenham's chorea is an autoimmune chorea emerging after a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) infection, i.e. a rheumatic chorea with or without the presence of carditis or arthritis. The disorder, defined by the presence of chorea, is also associated with cognitive and behavioral symptoms, including emotional lability, anxiety, depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The authors review the pathophysiology, clinical characteristics, and available evidence on therapeutic strategies, the latter including the secondary prevention of GABHS infections, reduction of chorea, and immune modulation. Sydenham's chorea has been regarded as a model for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders, however, the field is marked by conflicting results and controversies. Regarding therapeutics, there are limited high-quality interventional studies and the selection of treatment strategy often relies on the clinician's experience. A serial treatment algorithm is presented based upon the severity of clinical presentation and response to symptomatic pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio L Teixeira
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Graduation Program, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Institute of Education and Research, Santa Casa Bh, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Neuropsychiatry Program, Ut Health Science Center at Houston, USA
| | - Luiz P Vasconcelos
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Graduation Program, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Maria do Carmo Pereira Nunes
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Graduation Program, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Harvey Singer
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medicine and Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Rossi M, Wainsztein N, Merello M. Cardiac Involvement in Movement Disorders. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2021; 8:651-668. [PMID: 34307738 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.13188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Several conditions represented mainly by movement disorders are associated with cardiac disease, which can be overlooked in clinical practice in the context of a prominent primary neurological disorder. Objectives To review neurological conditions that combine movement disorders and primary cardiac involvement. Methods A comprehensive and structured literature search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria was conducted to identify disorders combining movement disorders and cardiac disease. Results Some movement disorders are commonly or prominently associated with cardiac disease. Neurological and cardiac symptoms may share underlying physiopathological mechanisms in diseases, such as Friedreich's ataxia and Wilson's disease, and in certain metabolic disorders, including Refsum disease, Gaucher disease, a congenital disorder of glycosylation, or cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. In certain conditions, such as Sydenham's chorea or dilated cardiomyopathy with ataxia syndrome (ATX-DNAJC19), heart involvement can present early in the course of disease, whereas in others such as Friedreich's ataxia or Refsum disease, cardiac symptoms tend to present in later stages. In another 68 acquired or inherited conditions, cardiac involvement or movement disorders are seldom reported. Conclusions As cardiac disease is part of the phenotypic spectrum of several movement disorders, heart involvement should be carefully investigated and increased awareness of this association encouraged as it may represent a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malco Rossi
- Sección Movimientos Anormales, Departamento de Neurociencias Instituto de Investigaciones Neurológicas Raúl Carrea, Fleni Buenos Aires Argentina.,Argentine National Scientific and Technological Research Council Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Nestor Wainsztein
- Departamento de Medicina Interna Unidad de Cuidados Críticos, Fleni Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Marcelo Merello
- Sección Movimientos Anormales, Departamento de Neurociencias Instituto de Investigaciones Neurológicas Raúl Carrea, Fleni Buenos Aires Argentina.,Argentine National Scientific and Technological Research Council Buenos Aires Argentina.,Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina Buenos Aires Argentina
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Are there any novel markers in acute rheumatic fever: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio. Cardiol Young 2020; 30:717-721. [PMID: 32364093 DOI: 10.1017/s104795112000089x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, platelet-to-lymphocyte, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratios in acute rheumatic fever in children. METHOD In this retrospective study, 182 patients with acute rheumatic fever and 173 controls were included. Complete blood count parameters, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, monocyte-to-lymphocyte, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios were recorded for all the patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, monocyte-to-lymphocyte, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios were significantly higher in patients with rheumatic heart disease than patients without cardiac involvement (p < 0.05). C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels were found to have a positive correlation with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (r = 0.228, p = 0.001; r = 0.355, p = 0.001), platelet-to-lymphocyte (r = 0.227, p = 0.01; r = 0.149, p = 0.005), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratios (r = 0.117, p = 0.005; r = 0.107, p = 0.044). Cardiac involvement was present in 152 (83.5%) of the patients. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, monocyte-to-lymphocyte, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios were significantly higher in patients with rheumatic heart disease than patients without cardiac involvement (p < 0.05). Patients with carditis were grouped according to mitral, aortic, or both valve involvement but there was no significant difference between the groups with respect to neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, monocyte-to-lymphocyte, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios. In addition, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratios were significantly higher in patients with Sydenham's chorea than without chorea (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, platelet-to-lymphocyte, and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratios may help make the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever and its prognosis by serial measurements in follow-up but none of them tell us the severity of carditis. Also, this is the first study showing the positive correlation between Sydenham's chorea and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratios. Further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis, as this is the first study in the literature on this topic.
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Vasconcelos LPB, Vasconcelos MC, Nunes MDCP, Teixeira AL. Sydenham’s chorea: an update on pathophysiology, clinical features and management. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2019.1684259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Paulo Bastos Vasconcelos
- Postgraduate Course of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marcelle Cristina Vasconcelos
- Postgraduate Course of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Maria Do Carmo Pereira Nunes
- Postgraduate Course of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Antonio Lucio Teixeira
- Postgraduate Course of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Neuropsychiatry Program, UT Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Predictors of recurrence in Sydenham's chorea: Clinical observation from a single center. Brain Dev 2016; 38:827-34. [PMID: 27209549 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2016.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sydenham's chorea is the most common cause of acquired chorea in children and is the major manifestation for acute rheumatic fever. Despite being known as a benign, self-limiting condition, recurrences and persistence of symptoms can be seen. In this study, we aimed to evaluate retrospectively the clinical and laboratory features of patients with Sydenham's chorea and the rate and the course of recurrences, and to assess the risk of recurrences. METHODS The study was a retrospective study conducted in a tertiary hospital. Patients with Sydenham's chorea who were admitted to our outpatient clinics between January 2013 and June 2015 were included. Both newly diagnosed and follow-up patients were enrolled during this period. We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of the patients. RESULTS There were 90 patients with female predominance. The mean age of onset was 11±2.4years. Complete remission was maintained in 77 patients (85.6%) at 1-6months and 4 patients had symptoms at more than 12months. Patients were followed for 6months to 9years. The recurrence rate was 16%. When we compared recurrent patients with the non-recurrent group, complete remission in 6months, the presence of persistent chorea, and regular use of prophylaxis were significantly different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS Sydenham's chorea is still an important health problem and has high morbidity in patients with recurrent and persistent chorea. The irregular usage of antibiotic prophylaxis, failure to achieve remission within 6months, and prolongation of symptoms for more than 1year are risk factors for recurrence of chorea.
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Williams KA, Swedo SE. Post-infectious autoimmune disorders: Sydenham's chorea, PANDAS and beyond. Brain Res 2014; 1617:144-54. [PMID: 25301689 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.09.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Infections, and the resulting immune response to these infections, have recently received increased recognition as pathogenic mechanisms for neuropsychiatric disorders. Sydenham's chorea (SC), a widely recognized post-streptococcal autoimmune disorder, represents a model for this proposed pathogenesis. In SC, a dysregulated immune response to a streptococcal infection is hypothesized to result in inflammation of neuronal networks, particularly the basal ganglia nuclei. The resulting dysfunction in the basal ganglia nuclei are hypothesized to lead to a constellation of adventitious movements and psychiatric symptoms, which investigations have shown are amenable to immunomodulatory therapies. PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal infections) has been proposed as a variant of SC, and is hypothesized to share a pathogenic mechanism, despite a unique symptom profile of predominantly psychiatric symptoms. In this review, we present the clinical aspects of both disorders, the data for potential shared etiopathogenesis between them, and the evidence for the therapeutic use of immunomodulatory therapies for the symptoms of SC and PANDAS. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Neuroimmunology in Health And Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A Williams
- Pediatric Neuropsychiatry and Immunology Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, MA 02114, United States.
| | - Susan E Swedo
- Pediatrics and Developmental Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, MA, United States
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Libman-Sacks endocarditis and embolic cerebrovascular disease. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2014; 6:973-83. [PMID: 24029368 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2013.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Revised: 04/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine whether Libman-Sacks endocarditis is a pathogenic factor for cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). BACKGROUND A cardioembolic pathogenesis of SLE CVD manifested as: 1) neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE), including stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIA); 2) neurocognitive dysfunction; and 3) magnetic resonance imaging of focal brain lesions has not been established. METHODS A 6-year study of 30 patients with acute NPSLE (27 women, 38 ± 12 years of age), 46 age- and sex-matched SLE controls without NPSLE (42 women, 36 ± 12 years of age), and 26 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (22 women, 34 ± 11 years of age) who underwent clinical and laboratory evaluations, transesophageal echocardiography, carotid duplex ultrasound, transcranial Doppler ultrasound, neurocognitive testing, and brain magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography. Patients with NPSLE were re-evaluated after 4.5 months of therapy. All patients were followed clinically for a median of 52 months. RESULTS Libman-Sacks vegetations (87%), cerebromicroembolism (27% with 2.5 times more events per hour), neurocognitive dysfunction (60%), and cerebral infarcts (47%) were more common in NPSLE than in SLE (28%, 20%, 33%, and 0%) and healthy controls (8%, 0%, 4%, and 0%, respectively) (all p ≤ 0.009). Patients with vegetations had 3 times more cerebromicroemboli per hour, lower cerebral blood flow, more strokes/TIA and overall NPSLE events, neurocognitive dysfunction, cerebral infarcts, and brain lesion load than those without (all p ≤ 0.01). Libman-Sacks vegetations were independent risk factors of NPSLE (odds ratio [OR]: 13.4; p < 0.001), neurocognitive dysfunction (OR: 8.0; p = 0.01), brain lesions (OR: 5.6; p = 0.004), and all 3 outcomes combined (OR: 7.5; p < 0.001). Follow-up re-evaluations in 18 of 23 (78%) surviving patients with NPSLE demonstrated improvement of vegetations, microembolism, brain perfusion, neurocognitive dysfunction, and lesion load (all p ≤ 0.04). Finally, patients with vegetations had reduced event-free survival time to stroke/TIA, cognitive disability, or death (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS The presence of Libman-Sacks endocarditis in patients with SLE was associated with a higher risk for embolic CVD. This suggests that Libman-Sacks endocarditis may be a source of cerebral emboli.
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Sydenham's chorea, and its complications affecting the nervous system. Brain Dev 2009; 31:11-4. [PMID: 18558468 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2008.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2005] [Revised: 04/14/2008] [Accepted: 05/01/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The well-known symptoms of rheumatic fever and Sydenham's chorea are briefly discussed. Then the associated psychiatric and neurological disorders are considered, especially the obsessive-compulsive and the attention deficit hyperactivity disorders; all linked to previous haemolytic streptococcal infections. Dystonic syndromes, and acute disseminated encephalopathies, also show such links; and may be part of the clinical spectrum of the post-infectious streptococcal illnesses. The causes of Sydenham's chorea are considered, especially an immune reactivity against the basal ganglia, supported by the finding of antibodies reactive against the neurons of the caudate nucleus. The resulting imbalance between dopaminergic and cholinergic systems may cause the involuntary choreiform movements, and account for the beneficial effects of certain drugs. The differential diagnosis of Sydenham's chorea is discussed, and the role of tests such as special imaging techniques. The possible treatments include prophylaxis with penicillin and the use of drugs like sodium valproate, carbamazapine and haloperidol. Immune therapy occupies a special role in selected patients, There is still a need for research into the links between these conditions.
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Millichap JG. Neurologic Findings in Sydenham's Chorea. Pediatr Neurol Briefs 2007. [DOI: 10.15844/pedneurbriefs-21-4-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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