Serum catecholamines in rheumatic chorea

ABSTRACT

Serum dopamine [DA], norepinephrine [NE] and epinephrine [E] levels were determined in 20 patients with rheumatic chorea [age ranges 5- 13 years with female to male ratio 3 2] as well as 10 healthy controls. Mean serum DA of the patients was found to be significantly elevated [5.862 +/- 1.654 ng/ ml vs 1.829 +/- 0.560 ng/ml in controls P less than 0.01]. Mean serum levels of NE and E in patients were 6.214 +/- 2.672 ng/ml and 17.189 +/- 7.448 ng/ml respectively and those of controls were 2.199 -+ 0.760 ng/ml and 9.595 -+ 3.232 ng. ml [P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.01 respectively]. Serum DA was positively related to the severity of involuntary movements while NE and E were not correlated. After one month of reserpine therapy there was no statistically significant difference between serum levels of DA, NE and E in choreic patients and controls