Sydenham Chorea With Elevated Interleukin-12 Levels Responsive to Plasmapheresis and Immunotherapy

Sydenham chorea (SC) presents with random abnormal involuntary movements that occur after an autoimmune reaction to a prior group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection. While most cases resolve spontaneously, some cases have a prolonged duration of symptoms and recurrences. We discuss a 22-year-old woman who presented with a two-month history of involuntary, brief, random, and irregular movements of the limbs. She had a history of multiple streptococcal throat infections. At age two, she had scarlet fever. After ruling out other causes of chorea, she was diagnosed with Sydenham chorea. She was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin, oral prednisone, and amantadine, resulting in full symptom resolution. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) was elevated approximately seven months after hospital discharge. Chronic elevation of IL-12 differs from previously published findings, which describe elevation only during the acute phase of the disease. Intensive immunosuppressive treatment during the acute phase, along with adherence to antibiotic therapy, may have contributed to the full resolution of her chorea.