INTRODUCTION
The word "chorea" is derived from the Latin "choreus," meaning "dance." Chorea is a hyperkinetic movement disorder characterized by involuntary brief, random, and irregular contractions conveying a feeling of restlessness to the observer [1]. Chorea may be caused by hereditary neurodegenerative diseases, follow structural damage to deep brain structures, or be associated with autoimmune disorders, metabolic derangement, or certain drugs and hormones. Investigation is oriented at searching for a secondary or reversible cause of chorea or confirming a hereditary condition with genetic testing. Although the chorea arriving from acquired conditions may be reversed, there is usually no specific therapy for hereditary neurodegenerative disorders. Symptomatic treatment can reduce abnormal movements regardless of the cause.This topic will provide an overview of the various types of chorea.
DEFINITIONS
Chorea, athetosis, and ballism frequently coexist in the same patient and are felt to be part of the same choreiform spectrum [2,3].●Chorea is a hyperkinetic movement disorder characterized by rapid and unpredictable contractions affecting mostly distal limbs, but also the face and trunk. The movements are involuntary and nonpatterned with variable speed, timing, and direction, flowing from one body part to another and giving, in less severe cases, an appearance of fidgetiness. The randomness and flowing quality of chorea is a feature that distinguishes it from tremor and dystonia [1].
●Athetosis refers to slower, writhing movements with a sinuous quality, usually affecting distal extremities or the face. The term "choreoathetosis" is used when typical choreic movements coexist with athetosis. It has been suggested that athetosis could be a manifestation of associated dystonia rather than a simple variant of chorea, such as seen in cerebral palsy [4].