Diagnosis and treatment of chorea syndromes

Abstract

Chorea is a common movement disorder which can be caused by a large variety of diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic diseases, and autoimmune diseases, or can be secondary to structural changes. The basal ganglia seem to be mainly involved in the pathophysiology indicating the vulnerability of this region. The diagnosis can be challenging, especially if chorea occurs during the treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions, and in these cases, it is difficult to distinguish between medication side effects (i.e., tardive dyskinesia) and the development of a neurodegenerative disease. Most therapeutic approaches are predominantly symptomatic, with a focus on multidisciplinary care for many patients. Nevertheless, some underlying diseases can be successfully treated and must not be missed. In this review, we summarize recent new developments in the differential diagnosis of chorea syndromes and suggest a pathway for a successful diagnosis of chorea in infancy, childhood, and adulthood for daily practice.