Diagnostic Tests for Chorea
Chorea Tests: Book Excerpts
Home Diagnostic Testing
These home medical tests may be relevant to Chorea:
- Nerve Neuropathy: Related Home Testing:
- Brain & Neurological Disorders: Related Home Testing:
Chorea Diagnosis: Book Excerpts
Diagnostic Tests for Chorea: Online Medical Books
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ATHETOSIS:
DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
(Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
Patients presenting with this complaint should have MRI, a serum copper and ceruloplasmin, a CBC, and liver function tests. A spinal tap should be performed if central nervous system lues is suspected.
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Source: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, 2003
CHOREIFORM MOVEMENTS:
DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP
(Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
A toxicology screen is usually the first thing to be done. A sedimentation rate, ASO titer, streptozyme test, and EKG will help diagnose Sydenham's chorea. Serum copper and ceruloplasmin will help diagnose Wilson's disease. An ANA assay may be done in patients suspected of having lupus erythematosus. Young adults with high-risk sexual behavior require human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing. If these tests are unrewarding, a neurologist should be consulted.
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Source: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, 2003
Chorea [Choreiform movements]:
History and physical examination
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Ask the patient and his family when they first noticed the choreiform movements. Do the movements disappear when the patient is asleep? Find out if anyone in the patient’s family exhibits the same type of movements, and ask about a family history of such diseases as Huntington’s disease. Also ask which medications the patient is taking. Obtain an occupational history, noting especially prolonged exposure to manganese or other metals. As you obtain the history, observe the patient for excessive restlessness and periodic facial grimaces that may interrupt his speech.
Perform a physical examination to evaluate the severity of the patient’s chorea. Ask him to stick out his tongue and keep it out. Typically, he’ll be unable to do this; instead, his tongue will dart in and out of his mouth. Observe the patient’s arms and legs separately for involuntary jerky movements. Ask him to extend and flex his hand as if halting traffic; the choreiform movements will be extremely evident in this position. Also, check for such related signs as athetosis, rigidity, or tremor.
To assess the patient for choreoathetotic gait, ask him to walk. He may change the position of his trunk and upper body parts with each step and jerk and tilt his head to one side. Because of superimposed involuntary movements and postures, the patient’s legs may move slowly and awkwardly. (An involuntary movement suspending his leg momentarily with each step may give a dancing quality to his gait.)
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Athetosis:
History and physical examination
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Begin your neurologic evaluation by taking a comprehensive prenatal and postnatal history, covering maternal and child health, labor and delivery, and possible trauma. Obtain a family health history because many genetic disorders can cause athetosis. Also, ask about current drug therapy.
Ask about the decline in the patient’s functional abilities: When was he last able to roll over, sit up, or carry out daily activities? Find out what problem—uncontrollable movements, mental deterioration, or a speech impediment—prompted him to seek medical help. Ask about the effects of rest, stress, and routine activity on his symptoms.
Test the patient’s muscle strength and tone, range of motion, fine muscle movements, and ability to perform rapidly alternating movements. Observe the limb muscles during voluntary movements, noting the rhythm and duration of contraction and relaxation.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Chorea:
Physical assessment
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
Perform a physical examination to evaluate the severity of the patient’s chorea. Ask him to stick out his tongue and keep it out. Typically, he’ll be unable to do this; instead, his tongue will dart in and out of his mouth. Observe the patient’s arms and legs separately for involuntary jerky movements. Ask him to extend and flex his hand as if halting traffic, and note the choreiform movements — they’ll be extremely evident in this position. Also, check for such related signs as athetosis, rigidity, or tremor.
To assess the patient for choreoathetotic gait, ask him to walk. He may change the positions of his trunk and upper body parts with each step and jerk and tilt his head to one side. Because of superimposed involuntary movements and postures, the patient’s legs may move slowly and awkwardly. (An involuntary movement suspending his leg momentarily with each step may give a dancing quality to his gait.)
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
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