A Case of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Presenting with Chorea: 
Evidence for Striatal Hypermetabolism

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 22(3); 2004 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2004;22(3): 255-258.

선조체 대사항진을 보인 무도증으로 발현한 전신성홍반성루푸스 1예

하상원, 정선주 김재승 임주혁 이명종

울산대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실, 핵의학과학교실, 서울아산병원

A Case of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Presenting with Chorea: Evidence for Striatal Hypermetabolism

Sang Won Ha

Departments of Neurology and Nuclear Medicine*, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Chorea is an uncommon clinical manifestation of Sytemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Its pathogenic mechanism has not been clearly clarified. We report a 54-year-old woman with SLE who presented with generalized chorea as an initial manifestation. Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET revealed increased metabolism in the bilateral putamen. Intravenous and oral administration of steroid markedly improved chorea. Hypermetabolism of the bilateral putamen diminished on follow-up FDG-PET after the disappearance of chorea. This study suggests that chorea in SLE is associated with striatal hypermetabolism.Key Words:Chorea, Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)