Sydenham's chorea: clinical observations from a Brazilian movement disorder clinic.

We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of 100 patients suffering from Sydenham's chorea (SC). Our analysis revealed a recent, progressive decline in the number of new cases. Onset of SC was frequently reported between 7 and 12 years of age, being more frequent in females. Patients with generalized or severe chorea showed a higher risk of presenting gait abnormalities and behavioral symptoms. Chorea was transitory and remitted within the first 6 months in about 50% of patients but was persistent in 40%. Almost all patients with persistent chorea remitted after a protracted course of the disease.