A Rare Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus during Childhood: Chorea

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic, chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease characterized by multi-organ and -system involvement such as the kidneys and hematologic and central nervous systems. The clinical presentation of the disease is extremely variable. Systemic findings, nephritis, neuropsychiatric disease, and cytopenia are more common in children than in adults at presentation. Chorea typically manifests with jerky, involuntary, and purposeless movements, involving the face, four limbs, and neck. In addition, patients suffer from dysarthria, gait disturbance, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Chorea can be the first finding of SLE during childhood. Herein we reported a 13-year female patient who presented with movement and speech disorders and who was diagnosed chorea-related SLE.

Keywords

• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• chorea
• children