Diffusion-weighted imaging in Sydenham’s chorea

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine of caudate nucleus changes in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Methods A total of 13 children (four males and nine females) with history of Sydenham’s chorea and 13 healthy controls were included in to the study. Diffusion cranial magnetic resonance imaging was performed in all subjects before prednisone treatment. Prednisone (2 mg/kg/day, maximum dose 60 mg/day) was used during 4 weeks and then progressively discontinued (20 % of the initial dose was reduced at each 5 days). Two months later, magnetic resonance imaging was repeated. Results Before and after 8 weeks of prednisone treatment, apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were calculated for right and left caudate nucleus. The ADC values were significantly different before treatment and 2 months after imaging. For the left caudate nucleus, ADC values before treatment (0.69 ± 0.038) were significantly lower than after treatment (0.95 ± 0.04). For the right caudate nucleus, ADC values before treatment (0.72 ± 0.06 × 10 −3 ) were significantly lower than after treatment (0.93 ± 0.04 × 10 −3 ). Conclusions Although cranial and caudate nucleus magnetic resonance imaging findings were normal, the low ADC value findings in our study support the autoimmune inflammation in basal ganglia of Sydenham’s chorea.