Clinical features of chorea associated with systemic lupus erythematosus

Neurologic complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are common, but chorea is rare. Three cases of chorea associated with SLE are presented as well as a review of 28 cases from the world literature. Chorea may be the first and at times the only sign prior to the establishment of diagnosis of SLE. Under such conditions the establishment of the correct diagnosis is difficult, and the chorea may be attributed to a more common etiology, Also the SLE-related chorea may recur in the same subject during the course of the disease. Finally, the chorea associated with SLE can be brought under control by use of haloperidol (HALDAL).