1 Introduction
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory
disease of unknown cause that can affect any organ system. Although SLE
in children is fundamentally the same disease as in adults, with similar
etiology, pathogenesis, and laboratory findings, there are some
differences in frequency and severity of certain clinical
manifestations.1
In 1999, the American College of Rheumatology issued a proposal for the
nomenclature and definition of Neuropsychiatric SLE(NPSLE). The proposal
defined 19 syndromes, including movement disorders.1Although NPSLE is documented in a range of 13.5% to 34.6% of
paediatric patients diagnosed with SLE,2,3 chorea is a
rare neurologic syndrome associated with SLE, described in 1 to 3
percent of patients with SLE. While the predominant cause of chorea in
children is typically the autoimmune variant resulting from
post-streptococcal origins, it’s important to note that chorea can also
arise as a complication of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
(SLE).4
We report a case of acute onset chorea as a form of NPSLE.