Chorea revealing systemic lupus erythematosus in a 13-year old boy: A case report and short review of the literature

Int Rev Immunol. 2018;37(4):177-182. doi: 10.1080/08830185.2018.1452920. Epub 2018 Mar 29.

Abstract

Among the neurological manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), chorea is rare, presenting in less than 7% of the pediatric SLE patients. It can appear early in the onset of SLE, be the first or even the sole clinical feature of the illness and has strongly been associated with the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. We report on the case of a 13-year old boy, admitted with acute onset chorea and finally diagnosed with SLE. Subsequently, we present a short review of the literature on the epidemiology, suggested pathogenesis, clinical presentation and treatment of this rare presentation of SLE.

Keywords: Chorea; antiphospholipid antibodies; sweet syndrome; systemic lupus erythematosus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Dyskinesia Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy / adverse effects
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / immunology
  • Chorea / diagnostic imaging
  • Chorea / drug therapy
  • Chorea / immunology*
  • Complement C3 / analysis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / blood
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / blood
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / diagnosis*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Skin / immunology
  • Skin / pathology
  • Sweet Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Sweet Syndrome / pathology

Substances

  • Anti-Dyskinesia Agents
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Complement C3
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor