What are the common causes of chorea?
It is probable that levodopa-induced chorea in parkinsonism is the most common cause of chorea.
Usually this diagnosis is not difficult once the history is available.
The combination of chorea and psychiatric symptoms can be found in Wilson’s disease.
However, the diagnosis is easily made by finding a Kayser–Fleischer ring, low-plasma ceruloplasmin, and evidence of hepatic dysfunction.
Sydenham’s chorea is a form of autoimmune chorea, preceded by a group A streptococcal infection.
Rarely encountered in the United States, this condition is one of the most common causes of chorea in underdeveloped areas.
Systemic lupus erythematosus and primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome are other causes of autoimmune chorea.
Senile chorea is a condition in which chorea is the only feature; no family history of Huntington’s disease (HD) is present.
