Chorea

Question 1

Describe chorea

Answer 1

involuntary, rapid, jerky movements which often move from one part of the body to another.

Question 2

What part of the brain is affected in chorea?

Answer 2

damage to the basal ganglia, especially the caudate nucleus.

Question 3

Name at least 3 causes of chorea

Answer 3

Huntington’s disease
Wilson’s disease
ataxic telangiectasia
SLE
anti-phospholipid syndrome
rheumatic fever: Sydenham’s chorea
neuroacanthocytosis
pregnancy
thyrotoxicosis
polycythaemia rubra vera
carbon monoxide poisoning
cerebrovascular disease

Question 4

What drugs can cause chorea?

Answer 4

oral contraceptive pill
L-dopa
antipsychotics