Untitled research work

Chorea is rapid, purposeless and random movement that flows from one body part to another. When chorea is proximal, it may lead to large flinging movements called ballism, and when it is distal, it may manifest as writhing movements called athetosis. Choreic movements result from structural abnormalities affecting the basal ganglia or its connections and may be due to metabolic abnormalities, effects of medications, or as a part of several recognized inherited disorders. Huntington disease and neuroacanthocytosis syndromes are the prototypical inherited degenerative disorders that cause chorea. Sydenham chorea is the most common acquired immune-mediated childhood chorea and is discussed in detail in this chapter. Management principles, including diagnostic considerations and pharmacotherapies commonly used in the management of chorea, ballism and athetosis, are discussed.