Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
The neurophysiological characteristics of motor cortex have been well characterized in patients with Huntington's disease. We present the first data on cortical excitability in patients with Sydenham's chorea.
METHODS:
Motor cortex excitability was examined using transcranial magnetic stimulation in 16 patients in the early clinical stages of Sydenham's chorea and in 17 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Investigations included resting and active motor threshold, motor evoked potential, input-output curves, contralateral silent period, and transcallosal inhibition.
RESULTS:
Resting and active motor threshold were significantly higher and motor evoked potentials were significantly smaller in patients in comparison with controls. The input-output curves were shallower in both hemispheres of patients with chorea compared with controls. No significant differences were seen in silent period or transcallosal inhibition duration.
CONCLUSION:
Sydenham's chorea is characterized by reduced excitability of corticospinal output similar to that observed in Huntington's disease.