View clinical trials related to Sydenham Chorea.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to find out whether an early three-day course of an oral steroid medication (dexamethasone) can improve the physical and mental recovery and wellbeing for children with Sydenham's chorea. Sydenham's chorea is a condition that impacts approximately 12% of children with acute rheumatic fever. It is caused by inflammation in the brain following an abnormal immune response to Group A streptococcus bacterial infection. Sydenham's chorea is a movement disorder that causes children's faces, hands, and feet to move quickly and uncontrollably, and can also affect mood and concentration. The physical recovery from Sydenham's chorea can take two to six months but the mental recovery (e.g. mood and concentration) can take longer to resolve. Sydenham's chorea remains endemic in Māori, Pacific Islander, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in New Zealand and Australia. There is limited evidence to direct treatment of Sydenham's chorea, and clinical practice differs widely around the world. Dexamethasone is an oral steroid which targets the abnormal immune response and successfully treats other immune-mediated brain disorders, with good tolerability. TREAT-SC is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial which will investigate whether a three day course of oral dexamethasone safely and effectively treats the movement disorder and psychiatric symptoms of Sydenham's chorea. The trial will recruit 80 participants from study sites in Australia and New Zealand.
Sydenham's chorea (SC) is a post-streptococcal, neuropsychiatric disorder associated with anti-neuronal antibodies. The investigators demonstrated elevated anti-D1-receptor (D1R) and anti-D2-receptor (D2R) antibodies titers compared to controls using ELISA. Similarly, the investigators found antibodies to surface D2R in neuropsychiatric, autoimmune disorders, including SC using cell-based assays. The investigators hypothesize that these autoantibodies cause neuropsychiatric symptoms by inducing intracellular signaling changes resulting in altered dopaminergic neurotransmission. To check this, the investigators will test whether sera from patients with SC alter dopaminergic signaling pathways. The investigators will examine sera from 30 SC patients with active symptoms and 30 age-matched healthy controls. Patients with SC will be assessed for severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms using UFMG Sydenham's Chorea Rating Scale. Controls with evidence of streptococcal infections or autoimmune disorders will be excluded. Sera will be examined for anti-D1R and anti-D2R antibodies. Signaling studies will assess sera impact on 1) calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activity in human neuronal cells. 2) dopamine D1/D2 receptors signaling using cAMP assays in transfected cell lines. The investigators will examine the correlation between modified signaling and clinical symptoms.
Children are at risk of developing an involuntary movement disorder after streptococcal throat infections. Not all children are affected and the severity is individually variable. Affected children have alteration in their behaviour and mood and can become quite compromised in their activities of daily living. The condition is believed to be related to the body having an over efficient immune response to the infection and some of the antibodies made in response to the infection also "attack" centres in the brain controlling movement and mood. Treating these children with immunoglobulins, which "mop up" the antibodies may reverse or improve affected children. This study hopes to clarify this.