The objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of corticosteroids in Sydenham chorea. This is a retrospective observational study. Clinical information of children with Sydenham chorea were collected. Outcome of Sydenham chorea was evaluated in consideration of presence or absence of corticosteroid therapy. Thirty patients were enrolled. A total of 15 were treated with prednisone, 15 received symptomatic drugs or no treatment. Patients who were treated with prednisone showed faster improvement (4 vs 16 days; p = 0.002) and shorter median time of remission (30 vs 135 days; p < 0.001).Conclusion: Our study showed that corticosteroid therapy is an effective treatment of Sydenham chorea.What is Known:• Steroid treatment in Sydenham chorea is widely used but it is not standardized.• Few manuscript report a beneficial use of steroids in Sydenham chorea if compared with no treatment.What is New:• Steroid treatment seems to be effective in both clinical remission and clinical improvement of symptoms among patients with Sydenham chorea.• Steroid treatment seems to be superior to conventional treatment.
Keywords: Acute rheumatic fever; Prednisone; Sydenham chorea; Treatment response.