Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Ole Isacson: Development of New Therapies for Parkinson's Disease
23:53

Ole Isacson: Development of New Therapies for Parkinson's Disease

Published on: April 29, 2007

Sydenham's chorea: not gone and not forgotten

Daniel J Bonthius1, Bahri Karacay

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.

Seminars in Pediatric Neurology
|June 6, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Sydenham's chorea, a rheumatic fever complication in children, causes movement and psychiatric issues. Antibiotic prophylaxis and immune therapies targeting streptococcal infections and basal ganglia antibodies are key treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • Sydenham's chorea is a neurological disorder linked to rheumatic fever.
  • It presents with movement abnormalities and psychiatric symptoms in children globally.
  • It can also indicate severe cardiac involvement (carditis).

Observation:

  • The condition is triggered by streptococcal pharyngitis.
  • Its pathogenesis involves anti-basal ganglia antibodies.
  • It may be part of a broader spectrum of streptococcal-induced neuropsychiatric syndromes.

Findings:

  • Antibiotic prophylaxis is crucial for preventing recurrent streptococcal infections.
  • Therapies aimed at immune modulation or restoring basal ganglia neurotransmitter balance show potential.
  • Sydenham's chorea is recognized as a significant pediatric neurological concern.

Implications:

  • Early diagnosis and management are vital to prevent long-term complications like carditis.
  • Understanding the autoimmune basis may lead to novel therapeutic strategies.
  • This highlights the importance of addressing streptococcal infections in pediatric populations.

More Related Videos

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis05:52

Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis

Published on: November 21, 2013

Rating L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesias in the Unilaterally 6-OHDA-Lesioned Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease06:45

Rating L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesias in the Unilaterally 6-OHDA-Lesioned Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

Published on: October 4, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Parkinson's Disease: Overview01:15

Parkinson's Disease: Overview

Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is to...
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment01:24

Parkinson's Disease: Treatment

Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Parkinson Disease l: Introduction01:24

Parkinson Disease l: Introduction

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement. It is characterized by motor symptoms such as resting tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability. Patients may notice hand tremors at rest, stiffness during movement, or a shuffling gait. In addition to motor features, non-motor symptoms include sleep disturbances, mood and behavioral changes, constipation, and cognitive impairment, all of which...
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:24

Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
Huntington Disease l: Introduction01:21

Huntington Disease l: Introduction

Huntington disease or HD is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.PathophysiologyIt is caused by expansion of the CAG trinucleotide repeat in the HTT gene on chromosome 4 (4p16.3), producing an abnormal huntingtin protein with an expanded polyglutamine tract. This misfolded protein disrupts cellular function, leading to neuronal death. Normal alleles have ≤26 repeats, 27–35 are intermediate (risk of expansion), 36–39 show reduced penetrance,...
Alterations in Muscle Tone ll01:12

Alterations in Muscle Tone ll

Alterations in muscle tone are common manifestations of neurological disorders and reflect dysfunction within different nervous system regions. Spasticity, paratonia, and dystonia represent distinct forms of hypertonia, each with unique mechanisms, clinical features, and diagnostic importance.CharacteristicsSpasticity happens from upper motor neuron lesions and is characterized by velocity-dependent resistance to passive movement. Clinical features include:Exaggerated deep tendon reflexesClonus...