BACKGROUND:

Chorea gravidarum has an estimated incidence of 1:2275 pregnancies. The differential diagnosis of this entity characterized by involuntary spontaneous movements together with behavioral alterations but be made with different neurological diseases. Generally, treatment of the underlying cause involves spontaneous cure of the condition.

OBJETIVES:

To report the case of a patient who debuted with a chorea gravidarum secondary to antiphospholipid syndrome and to review the literature.

CASE DESCRIPTION:

37-years-old patient, 28 weeks pregnant, who consulted for behavioral alterations. Laboratory test showed elevated anti phospholipid and anti-beta 2 glycoprotein antibodies in two determinations 12 weeks apart, with negative ANCA and ANA. There was no pathological finding in brain magnetic resonance. She was diagnosed with corea gravidarum secondary to antiphospholipid syndrome. She was treated effectively with anticoagulants and corticosteroids, and is currently asymptomatic and without treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

Analytical and neuroimaging tests are helpful in establishing the etiology of chorea. anticoagulants are indicated to prevent thrombotic events in chorea secondary to antiphospholipid syndrome. Corticosteroids have variable efficacy in the control of neurological symptoms, although in our case complete remission of the symptoms will be overcome.

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