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DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1697041
Sydenham's Chorea; Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings, a Retrospective Observational Study in Children
Publication History
17 May 2019
23 July 2019
Publication Date:
18 September 2019 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/10.1055-s-00029030/202005/lookinside/thumbnails/10-1055-s-0039-1697041_1900035-1.jpg)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and demographic and clinical characteristics, response to treatment times, and recurrence rates of Sydenham's chorea (SC), the most common of the acquired pediatric choreas. The clinical and radiological findings of 12 patients presenting to the pediatric neurology clinic in the previous 4 years and diagnosed with SC on the basis of the modified Jones criteria were investigated retrospectively from the hospital files. In addition, we measured the maximum prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia (globus pallidus, putamen, and caudate nucleus) thicknesses in the axial plane from patients' cerebral MRIs and compared these values with prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia thicknesses of a healthy control group measured using the same technique. Patient and control groups' cranial and basal ganglia MRIs were found to be normal. However, patients' globus pallidus thicknesses were significantly lower than those of the healthy control group. Additionally, the globus pallidus values of patients with recurrent SC and a prolonged healing time were lower than average. However, we determined no significant difference in terms of prefrontal motor cortex, caudate nucleus, or putamen thicknesses between the patient and control groups. Low globus pallidus thicknesses in patients with SC may indicate atrophy associated with globus pallidus involvement. Further experimental and prospective and long-term studies are needed for a better understanding of the factors affecting the pathophysiology, recurrence, and healing time of SC.
Keywords
basal ganglia - childhood - magnetic resonance imaging - prefrontal motor cortex - Sydenham's choreaNote
Ethics committee approval for the study was obtained from the Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (No. 2018/192).
The study previously appeared as an oral presentation at the Turkish Society of Neuroradiology International 28th Annual Meeting on 15–17 February 2019.
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