Reversible chorea in primary antiphospholipid syndrome

Mov Disord. 1998 Jan;13(1):147-9. doi: 10.1002/mds.870130127.

Abstract

A 20-year-old woman with acute chorea induced by primary antiphospholipid syndrome was studied by using fluorodeoxyglucose and positron emission tomography (PET). PET sessions were conducted during an episode of severe chorea and after recovery. The symptoms predominantly affected the right side of her face and body, and PET demonstrated a corresponding increase in lentiform and caudate nucleus metabolism prevailing on the left side. After recovery, PET showed normal values in the regions previously studied. This study adds further evidence to support the theory that acute choreas are somehow the result of striatal hypermetabolism.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / complications*
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / metabolism
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Chorea / etiology*
  • Chorea / metabolism
  • Corpus Striatum / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed