Chorea in systemic lupus erythematosus and "lupus-like" disease: association with antiphospholipid antibodies

Twelve patients with chorea from a population of 500 patients with SLE and "lupus-like" disease were reviewed. Clinical histories, including time relationships of chorea to the systemic illness and other neurologic manifestations, are reported. Chorea appeared early in the course of disease in most patients, but the development of cerebral infarctions or TIAs occurred subsequently in seven of nine patients demonstrating antiphospholipid antibodies. The relationship of chorea to the presence of these antibodies in nine of 12 patients and the therapeutic outcome are briefly discussed.