Treatment of chikungunya chronic arthritis: A systematic review / Tratamento de artralgia crônica da chikungunya: uma revisão sistemática

Summary Introduction: Chikungunya (CHIK) is a tropical arbovirus, transmitted by the female mosquito Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. In Brazil, there have been cases reported since 2014. The initial manifestations of this virus are sudden onset high fever, headache, chills, rashes, myalgia and intense joint pain. Usually, CHIK presents the acute and chronic phases, the latter characterized by bilateral polyarthralgia, which can last for months or even years. During this period, autoimmune diseases can be triggered, making the picture even more complicated. Method: A systematic review was performed on the PubMed and Scielo databases in January 2017. Clinical trials, cohorts, case-control and case reports were included in the study. Expert opinions, societal consensuses and literary reviews were exclusion criteria. Studies were conducted in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The studies were descriptively analyzed and the data was grouped according to methodological similarity. Results: Twenty-four (24) articles were selected and, in compliance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 18 were eliminated, with six studies remaining in the present review: five clinical trials and one case report. Conclusion: When the manifestations of CHIK become chronic and, the longer they last, more complications arise. Polyarthralgia can be immaterial, distancing individuals from their daily-life activities. Anti-inflammatory drugs (either steroid or not), in addition to immunosuppressants, homeopathy and physiotherapy are measures of treatment that, according to the literature, have been successful in relieving or extinguishing symptoms. However, it is fundamental that studies of CHIK treatment be further developed.

Resumo Introdução: A chikungunya é uma arbovirose tropical, transmitida pela fêmea dos mosquitos Aedes aegypti e Aedes albopictus. No Brasil, existem casos relatados desde 2014. As manifestações iniciais dessa virose são: febre alta de início súbito, cefaleia, calafrios, erupções cutâneas, mialgia e dor articular intensa. Normalmente, a chikungunya apresenta as fases aguda e crônica, sendo a última caracterizada pela poliartralgia bilateral, que pode durar meses e até anos. Durante esse período, doenças autoimunes podem ser desencadeadas, tornando o quadro ainda mais complicado. Método: Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática nos bancos de dados PubMed e Scielo em janeiro de 2017. Ensaios clínicos, coortes, casos-controle e relatos de caso foram incluídos na pesquisa. Opiniões de especialista, consensos de sociedades e revisões literárias foram critérios de exclusão. Foram avaliados estudos nas línguas inglesa, espanhola e portuguesa. Os estudos foram analisados descritivamente, e os dados agrupados, conforme semelhança metodológica. Resultados: Foram selecionados 24 artigos; em obediência aos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, 18 foram eliminados, restando seis estudos na presente revisão: cinco ensaios clínicos e um relato de caso. Conclusão: Quando as manifestações da chikungunya se tornam crônicas, quanto mais tempo duram, mais complicações surgem. A poliartralgia pode ser incapacitante, afastando os indivíduos das suas atividades de vida diária. Anti-inflamatórios (esteroides ou não), somados a imunossupressores, homeopatia e fisioterapia são medidas de tratamento que, conforme a literatura, têm alcançado êxito no alívio ou na extinção dos sintomas. Todavia, é fundamental que os estudos do tratamento da chikungunya sejam mais aprofundados.

Poliartritis agudas virales / Viral acute polyarthritis

Las poliartritis agudas son cuadros de menos seis semanas de duración, cuyas causas pueden o no ser infecciosas. Entre las primeras, destacan las virales, con gran varie-dad de agentes causales. Entre ellos se distinguen por su frecuencia: virus hepatitis B,virus hepatitis C, parvovirus B19, virus rubéola y la fiebre Chicungunya. Tienen elementos comunes, como su expresión poliarticular, generalmente simétrica, con predilección por las pequeñas articulaciones de las manos, siendo habitualmente autolimitadas. A su vez, poseen elementos propios, clínicos y de laboratorio, que permiten diferenciarlos, teniendo algunos una evolución más agresiva con morbilidad más significativa. A su vez, por sus características clínicas y de laboratorio, plantean el diagnóstico diferencial con enfermedades inmunoreumatológicas, como la artritis reumatoidea y el lupus eritematoso sistémico, entre otras.Se realiza una revisión del cuadro clínico y de laboratorio de las poliartritis causadas por los virus señalados, su diagnóstico diferencial y posibilidades terapéuticas.

The acute polyarthritis are pictures of less six weeks duration, whose causes can be or not to be infectious. Among the first, the viral ones stand out with a variety of causal agents. Among there distinguished by their frequency: virus hepatitis B, hepatitis C virus, parvovirus B19, rubella virus and the fever Chicungunya. They have common elements, such as his expression polyarticular, usually symmetrical, with a predilection for the small joints of the hands, being usually self-limiting. At the same time, they have own laboratory and clinical elements that allow differentiation, some having a more aggressive evolution with more significant morbidity. At the same time, for its clinical and laboratory characteristics, raise the differential diagnosis of immunohematological diseases, such as arthritis rheumatoid and systemic lupus erythematosus among others.Is done a review of clinical and laboratory of the polyarthritis caused by the mentioned viruses, differential diagnosis and therapeutic possibilities.

Artritis por Parvovirus B19: Caso clínico / Parvovirus B19 arthritis: Report of three cases

Parvovirus B19 infection is highly prevalent in children and the most common manifestation is a facial rash. In adults, acute polyarthritis and skin rash are often the presenting features. We report three patients with the disease. A 40-year-old female presenting with fever, myalgias and painful swelling of elbows, knees, wrists and feet, with functional limitation, after having a respiratory infection. Additionally, an erythematous skin rash appeared in both extremities. IgM antibodies against Parvovirus B19 were positive. The skin biopsy disclosed a leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The patient was treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and antihistaminics. A 40-year-old female, presenting with skin rash and pain in wrists and hands. IgM antibodies against parvovirus were positive. The patient was treated successfully with acetaminophen. A 38-year-old male with psoriasis, presenting with generalized and progressive polyarthralgia. A Parvovirus viral load determination found 239000 copies of the virus and IgM antibodies were positive. He was successfully treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Infecciones virales y compromiso articular / Viral infections and articular involvement

El compromiso articular en las infecciones virales es frecuente. El potencial artritogénico de los virus es variable. Existen virus que con mayor frecuencia producen compromiso articular, como el parvovirus B19, los virus de la hepatitis B y C, el virus de la rubéola y los alfavirus. El mecanismo de daño en las artritis virales puede ser secundario a la invasión directa de la articulación por el virus mismo o bien, como consecuencia de mecanismos inmunológicos. Se manifiestan principalmente por artralgias y artritis transitorias, autolimitadas, de corta duración y con distribución similar a la artritis reumatoide. Afectan más al sexo femenino y se resuelven sin dejar secuela articular en la mayoría de los casos. Habitualmente sólo requieren manejo sintomático; por lo tanto, es fundamental distinguir las artritis virales de otras artropatías debido a las diferencias en el manejo y pronóstico. Vacunas con virus vivos atenuados, como la vacuna de la rubéola, también pueden producir cuadros articulares similares a la infección natural. Además de las artritis propiamente tales, existen otros cuadros clínicos asociados a infecciones virales que pueden producir compromiso articular y que deben tenerse presente para ser reconocidos.

Joint involvement in patients infected by a virus has been widely observed. Each virus differs in its arthritogenic potential. Certain viruses, such as parvovirus B19, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, rubella, and alphaviruses produce joint involvement with greater frequency. The pathogenesis of viral arthritis may be secondary to the direct invasion of the articulation by the virus itself or as a consequence of immune mechanisms. Clinical manifestation is typically transient, self-limiting arthritis/arthralgias, usually lasting no longer than a few weeks, and distribution is similar to that of rheumatoid arthritis. Females are more commonly affected. In most cases it is nondestructive, leaving no articular sequelae. Because of its good prognosis, usually requiring only symptomatic treatment, it is very important to differentiate viral arthritis from other arthropathies. Vaccines with live, attenuated viruses, such as the rubella vaccine, can also produce joint conditions similar to that of the natural infection. It is important for doctors to be aware that in addition to arthritis itself, there are other clinical conditions associated with viral infections that can produce joint involvement.