Causes of Chorea
List of causes of Chorea
Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions
(see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Chorea)
that could possibly cause Chorea includes:
More causes:
see full list of causes for Chorea
Causes of Chorea (Diseases Database):
The follow list shows some of the possible medical causes of Chorea
that are listed by the Diseases Database:
Source: Diseases Database
Chorea Causes: Book Excerpts
Chorea as a complication of other conditions:
Other conditions that might have
Chorea as a complication may,
potentially, be an underlying cause of Chorea.
Our database lists the following as having
Chorea as a complication of that condition:
Chorea as a symptom:
Conditions listing Chorea
as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Chorea.
Our database lists the following as having
Chorea as a symptom of that condition:
Medications or substances causing Chorea:
The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible
causes of Chorea as a symptom.
This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances
may cause your symptoms.
Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using,
including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
Read more about medication causes of Chorea
Related information on causes of Chorea:
As with all medical conditions,
there may be many causal factors.
Further relevant information on causes of Chorea may be found in:
Causes of Chorea: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the causes of Chorea.
Chorea:
Differential Diagnosis
(In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)
Huntington's disease (chronic progressive
hereditary chorea)
–Autosomal dominant transmission
–Associated with psychiatric symptoms and
progressive dementia
–Caudate atrophy on neuroimaging studies
–Marker on chromosome 4
-
Sydenham's chorea
–Symptoms follow febrile illness (20–30%
of cases are associated with group A strep)
–Seen in rheumatic fever
–Peak ages: 5–13 years
–More common in females
Systemic lupus erythematosus
AIDS
Hyperthyroidism
-
Chorea gravidarum
–Develops in the first 4–5 months of
pregnancy
–Resolves following delivery
Drug-induced (e.g., levodopa, stimulants, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, neuroleptics, oral contraceptives)
Stroke
Neoplasm
-
Wilson's disease
–Autosomal recessive disorder
–Deficiency in copper metabolism
–Associated with hepatic dysfunction,
dystonia, dysarthria
Benign hereditary chorea
–Autosomal dominant
–Onset before age 5
–Symptoms are nonprogressive
-
Neuroacanthocytosis
–Etiology unknown
–Characterized by chorea and deformed
erythrocytes
DRPLA
–Most common in Japan
–Characterized by chorea, ataxia, epilepsy,
and dementia
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: In a Page: Signs and Symptoms, 2004
Chorea:
Differential Diagnosis
(In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms)
-
Toxins
–Neuroleptics, phenytoin, antiemetics, oral contraceptives, theophylline, L-dopa, stimulants, lithium, carbon monoxide, manganese
-
Sydenham chorea (in rheumatic fever)
–Migratory chorea, hypotonia, dysarthria,
emotional liability
–Usually 4 months after group A β-hemolytic Streptococcus infection
–Molecular mimicry between streptococcal and CNS antigens results in formation of cross-reactive antibodies that disrupt basal ganglia function
–Carditis is present in 80% of Sydenham chorea patients
-
Inherited choreas
–Benign familial chorea
–Juvenile Huntington chorea (usually presents
with rigidity)
–Familial paroxysmal choreoathetosis
-
Postinfectious: Mycoplasma, HSV, EBV, echovirus 25, varicella
-
Encephalitis: viral, mycoplasma, Lyme
-
Post-cardiac surgery
–“Post-pump chorea”
–Usually 2 weeks after cardiac surgery
- Syndrome or disease associated
–Wilson disease
–Hallervorden-Spatz (disorder of iron metabolism with degeneration of globus pallidus)
–Fahr disease: Encephalopathy and
progressive calcification of basal ganglia
–Lesch-Nyhan syndrome
–Ataxia-telangiectasia
-
Endocrine: Hyperthyroidism, pregnancy (chorea gravidarum)
-
Acquired brain disorders
–Multiple sclerosis, basal ganglia stroke, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, neoplasm
-
Abetalipoproteinemia
-
Glutaric aciduria type I
-
Neuroacanthocytosis
-
Systemic lupus erythematosus
-
Kernicterus
-
Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
-
Mitochondrial encephalopathies
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms, 2007
Chorea [Choreiform movements]:
Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Cerebral infarction
An infarction that involves the thalamic area produces unilateral or bilateral chorea. The patient may also experience dysarthria, tremors, rigidity, weakness, and sensory disturbances such as paresthesia.
Encephalitis
Chorea may occur in the recovery phase of encephalitis. Low-grade fever and athetosis may also be present, in addition to such focal neurologic signs as hemiparesis, hemiplegia, and facial droop.
Huntington’s disease
In this inherited disease, chorea may be the first sign or it may accompany the intellectual decline that leads to emotional disturbances and dementia. The patient’s movements tend to be choreoathetotic and may be accompanied by dysarthria, dystonia, prancing gait, dysphagia, and facial grimacing.
Wilson’s disease
Chorea and dystonia affecting the arms and legs are early indicators of Wilson’s disease. The patient typically experiences dysarthria, tremors, hoarseness, dysphagia, and slowed body movements; he may also exhibit emotional and behavioral disturbances, drooling, rigidity, and mental deterioration. The pathognomonic Kayser-Fleischer ring in the cornea appears as the disease progresses.
Other causes
Carbon monoxide poisoning
A patient who survives severe carbon monoxide poisoning may have neurologic signs and symptoms, such as chorea, rigidity, dementia, impaired sensory function, masklike facies, generalized seizures, and myoclonus.
Drugs
Phenothiazines (especially the piperazine derivatives), haloperidol, thiothixene, and loxapine commonly produce chorea. Metoclopramide, metyrosine, hormonal contraceptives, levodopa, and phenytoin may also cause this sign.
Lead poisoning
In the later stages, lead poisoning produces chorea in addition to seizures, headache, memory lapses, and severe mental impairment. The patient may also develop masklike facies, footdrop, wristdrop, dizziness, ataxia, weakness, lethargy, abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, constipation, lead line on the gums, and a metallic taste in his mouth.
Manganese poisoning
In miners who have been exposed to manganese dioxide for prolonged periods, chorea characteristically occurs with a propulsive gait, dystonia, and rigidity. Initially, the patient may have masklike facies, a resting tremor, and personality changes; later, extreme muscle weakness and lethargy occur.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Athetosis:
Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Brain tumor
A brain tumor that affects the basal ganglia causes contralateral choreoathetosis and dystonia. Associated signs vary markedly with the type of tumor and its degree of invasion.
Calcification of the basal ganglia
Calcification of the basal ganglia is a unilateral or bilateral disorder that’s characterized by choreoathetosis and rigidity. It usually arises in adolescence or early adulthood.
Cerebral infarction
In cerebral infarction, contralateral athetosis is accompanied by altered level of consciousness. The patient may also display contralateral paralysis of the face or limbs.
Hepatic encephalopathy
Episodic or persistent choreoathetosis occurs in the chronic stage of hepatic encephalopathy and is accompanied by cerebellar ataxia, myoclonus of the face and limbs, asterixis, dysarthria, and dementia.
Huntington’s disease
Huntington’s disease is a hereditary degenerative disease in which athetosis and chorea develop progressively in middle-aged adults. Accompanying signs and symptoms include dystonia, dysarthria, facial apraxia, rigidity, depression, and progressive mental deterioration leading to dementia.
Wilson’s disease
Wilson’s disease is an inherited metabolic disorder in which choreoathetoid movements initially involve the fingers and hands and then spread to the arms, head, trunk, and legs. Associated signs and symptoms include Kayser-Fleischer rings (rusty brown rings around the corneas), arm and hand tremors, facial and muscular rigidity, dysarthria, dysphagia, drooling, and progressive dementia. Hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, jaundice, hematemesis, and spider angiomas may also occur.
Other causes
Levodopa and phenytoin
Toxic levels of these drugs may cause athetoid or choreoathetoid movements.
Phenothiazines and other antipsychotics
The piperazine derivatives, such as meclizine and prochlorperazine, commonly cause athetosis. The aliphatic phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine, occasionally cause it. A third type of derivative, the piperidine phenothiazines, such as thioridazine and perphenazine, rarely cause it. Other antipsychotics, such as haloperidol, thiothixene, and loxapine, commonly cause athetosis.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Chorea:
Medical causes
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
Carbon monoxide poisoning
A patient who survives severe carbon monoxide poisoning may have neurologic signs and symptoms, such as chorea, rigidity, dementia, impaired sensory function, masklike facies, generalized seizures, and myoclonus.
Cerebral infarction
A cerebral infarction that involves the thalamic area produces unilateral or bilateral chorea. The patient may also experience dysarthria, tremors, rigidity, weakness, and sensory disturbances such as paresthesia.
Encephalitis
Chorea may occur in the recovery phase of encephalitis. Low-grade fever and athetosis may also be present, in addition to such focal neurologic signs as hemiparesis, hemiplegia, and facial droop. Other signs and symptoms include headache, vomiting, photophobia, stiff neck, confusion, and drowsiness.
Huntington’s disease
In Huntington’s disease, an inherited disease, chorea may be the first sign or may occur with the intellectual decline that leads to emotional disturbances and dementia. The patient’s movements tend to be choreoathetotic and may be accompanied by dysarthria, dystonia, prancing gait, dysphagia, and facial grimacing.
Lead poisoning
In the later stages of lead poisoning, chorea occurs in addition to seizures, headache, memory lapses, and severe mental impairment. The patient may also develop masklike facies, footdrop, wristdrop, dizziness, ataxia, weakness, lethargy, abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, constipation, lead line on his gums, and a metallic taste in his mouth.
Manganese poisoning
In miners who have been exposed to manganese dioxide for prolonged periods, chorea characteristically occurs with propulsive gait, dystonia, and rigidity. Initially, the patient may have masklike facies, a resting tremor, and personality changes; later, extreme muscle weakness and lethargy occur.
Other causes
Drugs
Such drugs as phenothiazines (especially the piperazine derivatives), haloperidol, thiothixene, and loxapine commonly produce chorea. Metoclopramide, metyrosine, hormonal contraceptives, levodopa, and phenytoin may also cause this sign.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
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