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Chorea is a group of disorders that cause involuntary movements or twitches in various parts of the body. Treatment varies depending on the cause, with antipsychotic drugs and tranquilizers used for pregnant women and Sydenham’s chorea, while raising dopamine levels is used for Huntington’s disease. The goal is to determine the cause and stop the movement.
Chorea is the name for a group of disorders that cause involuntary movements or twitches in various parts of the body. The type present can indicate where the body movements occur, though not always. In Huntington’s disease, for example, jerky body movements may occur frequently in the face and other areas, and these symptoms tend to worsen as the disease progresses. In contrast, gravidarian chorea, which occurs during pregnancy, is usually most noticeable in the limbs and face, and in Sydenham’s chorea, most of the face is affected by a series of uncontrolled facial twitching and grimacing.
There are many things that can cause these uncontrolled movements. As mentioned, Huntington’s disease and more rarely pregnancy are indicated. Sydenham’s chorea is almost always associated with rheumatic fever and most likely affects children. Other causes include certain psychiatric drugs or metabolic disorders.
Treatment may differ depending on the cause. In pregnant women, for example, some treatments have included the use of antipsychotic drugs such as haloperidol (Haldol®) and some benzodiazepine tranquilizers. These may not fully control the movements but may eliminate them to some extent. There is great concern about the use of strong drugs in pregnancy due to possible adverse effects on the fetus.
Sydenham’s chorea is usually limited in time, although the illness can last for several months. Treatment again might focus on reducing muscle movement through tranquilizers or other medications, but it might not be a total cure. Fortunately many people make a full recovery from this condition after a couple of months and most will not relapse and experience it again. However, it is a challenge for anyone with the condition because it usually affects children between the ages of 7 and 14 and can be downright miserable for the involuntary movements to continue.
While forms of this condition caused by pregnancy or rheumatic fever resolve, Huntington’s does not, and the disease is a progressive and devastating one that is inherited genetically. Treatments for symptoms of chorea in Huntington’s usually involve raising dopamine levels, which can be achieved with medications such as certain monoamine oxidase inhibitors or with a variety of other medications such as L-dopa. Despite treatment, some degree of involuntary muscle movement may still occur.
For other types of chorea, treatment is related to the possible cause. For example, if your medications cause symptoms of this condition, you might try stopping the medication or switching it to another drug. The goal of treating this involuntary movement disorder is twofold in many cases: determining the cause and stopping the movement.
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