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Management of rheumatic chorea: an observational study
Alexandra Prufer de Queiroz Campos Araujo1, Paula Assunção Brito Padua, Heber Souza Maia Filho
1Serviço de Neurologia, Instituto de Puericultura e Pediatria Martagão Gesteira, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. alexprufer@hotmail.com
Background:
Rheumatic chorea (RC) has recently been linked to an antibody-mediated immune mechanism.
Objective/Method:
To verify if this knowledge reflected in management changes we conceived a descriptive study.
Results:
The medical charts of 20 children (13 females) aged 6 to 12 years (mean 8 years), diagnosed as RC from June 1996 to June 1999, were reviewed. All patients received some medical treatment. Haloperidol was the most prescribed medication (15 patients - 75 %). Sulpiride, diazepam and valproate were also used as symptomatic treatment. Immune-modulating therapy with prednisone was prescribed for seven children. The shortest course of chorea (16 days) occurred in a patient treated with prednisone.
Conclusion:
Prednisone has been prescribed for rheumatic chorea besides the traditional symptomatic approach. A great variety of antichoreic drugs are being employed.