Anodal tDCS over the motor cortex improves pain but not physical function in chronic chikungunya arthritis: Randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a globally prevalent pathogen, with outbreaks occurring in tropical regions. Chronic pain is the main symptom reported and is associated with decreased mobility and disability. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is emerging as a new therapeutic tool for chronic arthralgia. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of 10 consecutive sessions of anodal tDCS on pain (primary outcome) in participants with chronic CHIKV arthralgia. Secondary outcomes included functional status, quality of life, and mood. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 30 participants with chronic CHIKV arthralgia were randomly assigned to receive either active (n = 15) or sham (n = 15) tDCS. The active group received 10 consecutive sessions of tDCS over M1 using the C3/Fp2 montage (2 mA for 20 min). Visual analog scale of pain (VAS), health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), short-form 36 health survey (SF-36), pain catastrophizing scale, Hamilton anxiety scale (HAS), timed up and go (TUG) test, lumbar dynamometry, 30-s arm curl and 2-min step test were assessed at baseline, day 10 and at 2 follow-up visits. RESULTS: There was a significant interaction between group and time on pain (p = 0.03; effect size 95 % CI 0.9 (-1.67 to -0.16), with a significant time interaction (p = 0.0001). There was no interaction between time and group for the 2-minute step test (p = 0.18), but the groups differed significantly at day 10 (p = 0.01), first follow-up (p = 0.01) and second follow-up (p = 0.03). HAQ and SF-36 improved but not significantly. There was no significant improvement in mental health, and physical tests. CONCLUSION: tDCS appears to be a promising intervention for reducing pain in participants with chronic CHIKV arthralgia, although further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore potential long-term benefits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC): RBR-245rh7.

"What will the doctor give me, the same painkiller?": a qualitative study exploring health-care seeking and symptoms self-management among patients for the treatment of long-term chikungunya disease, in Curaçao.

BACKGROUND: Long-term chikungunya disease, characterized by persistent disabling rheumatic symptoms, including poly-arthralgia/arthritis of severe pain intensity, can persist for years after infection with the re-emerging mosquito-borne chikungunya virus. Although persistent symptoms and pain severity are important determinants of health-care seeking and self-management of symptoms, research on these in relation to long-term chikungunya disease is scarce. This study aimed to explore the perceived benefits and perceived barriers concerning health-care seeking, based on the Health Belief Model, and the symptoms self-management strategies used for health outcome improvement among individuals affected by long-term chikungunya disease. METHODS: An exploratory qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 20 purposively selected adults (17 females and 3 males) with persistent rheumatic symptoms, recruited from an ongoing longitudinal chikungunya cohort, in Curaçao. Semi-structured interviews were carried out, audio-recorded, and transcribed. An iterative coding process was used for themes identification through inductive thematic analyses. RESULTS: No perceived benefits in health-care seeking were reported. Identified themes in relation to perceived barriers were: (1) health-care seeking at disease onset; (2) general practitioners (GPs) perceptions and awareness of persistent symptoms; (3) challenges for medical referrals and support; (4) no validation of symptoms and challenges accessing therapy; (5) health system restrictions; and (6) social stigmatization of psychological help. These perceived barriers have led participants to self-manage persistent symptoms. Over-the-counter pharmacological and/or non-pharmacological treatments were used without consulting GPs. Identified themes were: (1) self-medication of symptoms; and (2) self-management true non-pharmacological treatments. CONCLUSIONS: To promote the benefits of long-term health-care seeking and subsequently reduce the possible harmful use of analgesics, a collaborative physician-patient therapeutic relationship need to be encouraged. To facilitate this, important shifts may be needed in chikungunya sequalae education of both patients and health-care professionals, and policy makers need to revise health systems for the long-term provision of multidisciplinary care to achieve beneficial health outcomes in long-term chikungunya disease.

Multicenter study of the natural history and therapeutic responses of patients with chikungunya, focusing on acute and chronic musculoskeletal manifestations - a study protocol from the clinical and applied research in Chikungunya (REPLICK network).

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya is associated with high morbidity and the natural history of symptomatic infection has been divided into three phases (acute, post-acute, and chronic) according to the duration of musculoskeletal symptoms. Although this classification has been designed to help guide therapeutic decisions, it does not encompass the complexity of the clinical expression of the disease and does not assist in the evaluation of the prognosis of severity nor chronic disease. Thus, the current challenge is to identify and diagnose musculoskeletal disorders and to provide the optimal treatment in order to prevent perpetuation or progression to a potentially destructive disease course. METHODS: The study is the first product of the Clinical and Applied Research Network in Chikungunya (REPLICK). This is a prospective, outpatient department-based, multicenter cohort study in Brazil. Four work packages were defined: i. Clinical research; ii) Translational Science - comprising immunology and virology streams; iii) Epidemiology and Economics; iv) Therapeutic Response and clinical trials design. Scheduled appointments on days 21 (D21) ± 7 after enrollment, D90 ± 15, D120 ± 30, D180 ± 30; D360 ± 30; D720 ± 60, and D1080 ± 60 days. On these visits a panel of blood tests are collected in addition to the clinical report forms to obtain data on socio-demographic, medical history, physical examination and questionnaires devoted to the evaluation of musculoskeletal manifestations and overall health are performed. Participants are asked to consent for their specimens to be maintained in a biobank. Aliquots of blood, serum, saliva, PAXgene, and when clinically indicated to be examined, synovial fluid, are stored at -80° C. The study protocol was submitted and approved to the National IRB and local IRB at each study site. DISCUSSION: Standardized and harmonized patient cohorts are needed to provide better estimates of chronic arthralgia development, the clinical spectra of acute and chronic disease and investigation of associated risk factors. This study is the largest evaluation of the long-term sequelae of individuals infected with CHIKV in the Brazilian population focusing on musculoskeletal manifestations, mental health, quality of life, and chronic pain. This information will both define disease burden and costs associated with CHIKV infection, and better inform therapeutic guidelines.

Ten sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation for chronic chikungunya arthralgia: study protocol for a randomised clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The chikungunya virus infection is still an epidemic in Brazil with an incidence of 59.4 cases per 100 000 in the Northeast region. More than 60% of the patients present relapsing and remitting chronic arthralgia with debilitating pain lasting for years. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) appears promising as a novel neuromodulation approach for pain-related networks to alleviate pain in several pain syndromes. Our objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of tDCS (C3/Fp2 montage) on pain, muscle strength, functionality and quality of life in chronic arthralgia. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This protocol is a single-centre, parallel-design, double-blind, randomised, sham-controlled trial. Forty participants will be randomised to either an active or sham tDCS. A total of 10 sessions will be administered over 2 weeks (one per weekday) using a monophasic continuous current with an intensity of 2 mA for 20 min. Participants will be evaluated at baseline, after the 10th session, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after intervention. PRIMARY OUTCOME: pain assessed using numeric rating scale and algometry. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: muscle strength, functionality and quality of life. The effects of stimulation will be calculated using a mixed analysis of variance model. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Trairí, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (No. 2.413.851) and registered on the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials. Study results will be disseminated through presentations at conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: RBR-469yd6.

Serological and molecular epidemiology of the Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya viruses in a risk area in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The co-circulation of types of arbovirus in areas where they are endemic increased the risk of outbreaks and limited the diagnostic methods available. Here, we analyze the epidemiological profile of DENV, CHIKV and ZIKV at the serological and molecular level in patients with suspected infection with these arboviruses in the city of Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brazil. METHODS: In 2016, the Central Public Health Laboratory (LACEN) of Juazeiro do Norte received 182 plasma samples from patients who visited health facilities with symptoms compatible with arbovirus infection. The LACEN performed serological tests for detection of IgM/IgG to DENV and CHIKV. They then sent these samples to the Retrovirology Laboratory of the Federal University of São Paulo and Faculty of Medical of the ABC where molecular analyses to confirm the infection by DENV, ZIKV and CHIKV were performed. The prevalence of IgM/IgG antibodies and of infections confirmed by RT-qPCR were presented with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: In serologic analysis, 125 samples were positive for antibodies against CHIKV and all were positive for antibodies against DENV. A higher prevalence of IgG against CHIKV (63.20% with 95% CI: 45.76-70.56) than against DENV (95.05% with 95% CI: 78.09-98.12) was observed. When the samples were submitted to analysis by RT-qPCR, we observed the following prevalence: mono-infection by ZIKV of 19.23% (95% CI: 14.29-34.82) patients, mono-infection by CHIKV of 3.84% (95% CI: 2.01-5.44) and co-infection with ZIKV and CHIKV of 1.09% (95% CI: 0.89-4.56). CONCLUSION: The serologic and molecular tests performed in this study were effective in analyzing the epidemiological profile of DENV, CHIKV and ZIKV in patients with suspected infection by these arboviruses in the city of Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará/Brazil.

Tropical Infections in the Context of Kidney Transplantation in Latin America.

Reports on tropical infections among kidney transplant (KT) recipients have increased in recent years, mainly because of the growing number of KT programs located in tropical and subtropical areas, and greater mobility or migration between different areas of the world. Endemic in emerging and developing regions, like most countries in Latin America, tropical infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. Tropical infections in KT recipients may exhibit different pathways for acquisition compared with those in nonrecipients, such as transmission through a graft and reactivation of a latent infection triggered by immunosuppression. Clinical presentation may differ compared with that in immunocompetent patients, and there are also particularities in diagnostic aspects, treatment, and prognosis. KT patients must be screened for latent infections and immunized properly. Last, drug-drug interactions between immunosuppressive agents and drugs used to treat tropical infections are an additional challenge in KT patients. In this review, we summarize the management of tropical infections in KT patients.

Physiotherapeutic evaluation and intervention proposal on a patient with post-chikungunya chronic arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya fever is an arboviral disease characterized by a high morbidity rate related to intense and persistent arthralgia, causing a decrease in both quality of life (QoL) and productivity. This study aimed to report functional evaluation and multimodal physiotherapeutic intervention on a patient with post-chikungunya chronic arthritis (PCCA). CASE PRESENTATION: Woman, 47 years old, resident of the municipality of Belém, state of Pará, northern Brazil, with clinical diagnosis of chikungunya fever marked by fever, swelling, pain in the joints of the hands and feet, and headache. The physiotherapeutic treatment started three months after the diagnosis and consisted of 24 sessions composed of electrotherapy, thermotherapy, and kinesiotherapy resources. The patient progressed from an initial status of intense pain in several joints to low pain in a single joint and showed improvement in all domains of QoL, mainly in limitations by physical and emotional aspects and functional capacity. CONCLUSIONS: This case report details a proposal of multimodal physiotherapeutic intervention for a patient with functional impairments due to PCCA, suggesting that the use of physiotherapeutic resources may help this process and bring some assistance to those affected by the disease.

Update on the treatment of musculoskeletal manifestations in chikungunya fever: a guideline.

Since the emergence of the chikungunya virus in Brazil in 2014, more than 700,000 cases have been reported throughout the country, corresponding to one-third of all cases reported in the Americas. In addition to its high attack rates, resulting in hundreds of thousands of cases, the disease has high chronicity rates with persistent joint manifestations for more than 3 months, which can spread to more than half of the patients affected in the acute phase. Pain associated with musculoskeletal manifestations, often disabling, has an effect on patients' quality of life at different stages of the disease. Currently, the challenge faced by specialists is identifying the best therapy to be instituted for symptom relief despite the limited number of published intervention studies. In 2016, a multidisciplinary group published pharmacological treatment protocols for pain in patients with chikungunya, which was incorporated into the guidelines for clinical management of the Brazilian Ministry of Health in 2017; in that same year, a consensus was published by the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology about diagnosis and treatment. After 5 years of experience with chikungunya epidemics, in 2019, specialists involved in the protocols of the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology and Brazilian Ministry of Health prepared an update with the main objective of developing flowcharts for the therapeutic approach of musculoskeletal manifestations in adult patients to enable specialists at different levels of healthcare to spread and apply this guideline in a systematic and simplified manner.

Manejo clínico da suspeita de febre de Chikungunya: conhecimento de profissionais de saúde da atenção básica / Manejo clínico de la fiebre de Chikungunya sospecha: conocimiento de profesionales de salud de atención básica / Clinical management of suspected Chikungunya fever: health professionals knowledge of basic attention

Objetivo: identificar o conhecimento de profissionais de saúde de unidades básicas de saúde da família sobre o manejo clínico da suspeita de febre de Chikungunya. Método: realizou-se um estudo transversal com 31 profissionais de saúde de unidades básicas e saúde da família, localizadas no Município de Quixadá-Ceará, nos meses de janeiro e fevereiro de 2018. Resultados: quase todos relatam que ao avaliar sinais de gravidade, critérios de internação e grupos de risco, se o paciente não apresentar sinais de gravidade, não tiver critérios de internação e/ou condições de risco, o mesmo deve permanecer em acompanhamento ambulatorial; se o paciente for apenas do grupo de risco, o mesmo deve receber acompanhamento ambulatorial em observação; e se o paciente apresentar sinais de gravidade e/ou tiver critérios de internação, ele deve receber acompanhamento em internação. Conclusão: os profissionais de saúde possuem conhecimento satisfatório sobre o manejo clínico da doença baseado nas orientações do Ministério da Saúde

Objective: to identify the knowledge of health professionals of family health basic units on the clinical management of suspected chikungunya fever. Method: a cross-sectional study with 31 healthcare professionals of basic units and family health, located in the city of Quixadá - Ceará, in the months of January and February 2018. Results: almost all report to evaluate signs of severity, admission criteria and risk groups, if the patient does not show signs of seriousness does not meet criteria for hospitalization and risk conditions/or should stay in outpatient follow-up; If the patient is only a risk group, he/she must be referred to outpatient follow-up for observation; and if the patient shows signs of severity and/or admission criteria, he should receive follow-up in hospital. Conclusion: health professionals have satisfactory knowledge on the clinical management of the disease based on the guidelines of the Ministry of Health

Objetivo: identificar el conocimiento de la salud profesionales de unidades básicas de salud de la familiaenel manejo clínico de só pecha Chikungunya fiebre. Método: estudio transversal con 31 profesionales de la salud de unidades básicas y de salud familiar, ubicado em la ciudad de Quixadá - Ceará, em los meses de enero y febrero de 2018. Resultados: informe casi todos para evaluar signos de gravedad, grupos de criterios de admisión y el riesgo, si el paciente no no mostrar signos de seriedad no tienen criterios para las condiciones de la hospitalización y el riesgo/unidad organizativa, debe mantenerse en seguimiento ambulatorio; Si el paciente es sóloel grupo de riesgo, el mismo debe recibir seguimento ambulatorio de observación; y si el paciente muestra signos de criterios de severidad y/o admisión, deben recibir seguimento em hospitalización. Conclusión: profesionales de la salud tienen conocimiento satisfactorio em el manejo clínico de la enfermedad basada en las directrices del Ministerio de Salud

Update on the treatment of musculoskeletal manifestations in chikungunya fever: a guideline

Abstract Since the emergence of the chikungunya virus in Brazil in 2014, more than 700,000 cases have been reported throughout the country, corresponding to one-third of all cases reported in the Americas. In addition to its high attack rates, resulting in hundreds of thousands of cases, the disease has high chronicity rates with persistent joint manifestations for more than 3 months, which can spread to more than half of the patients affected in the acute phase. Pain associated with musculoskeletal manifestations, often disabling, has an effect on patients' quality of life at different stages of the disease. Currently, the challenge faced by specialists is identifying the best therapy to be instituted for symptom relief despite the limited number of published intervention studies. In 2016, a multidisciplinary group published pharmacological treatment protocols for pain in patients with chikungunya, which was incorporated into the guidelines for clinical management of the Brazilian Ministry of Health in 2017; in that same year, a consensus was published by the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology about diagnosis and treatment. After 5 years of experience with chikungunya epidemics, in 2019, specialists involved in the protocols of the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology and Brazilian Ministry of Health prepared an update with the main objective of developing flowcharts for the therapeutic approach of musculoskeletal manifestations in adult patients to enable specialists at different levels of healthcare to spread and apply this guideline in a systematic and simplified manner.

Chikungunya in a kidney transplant recipient: a case report / Chikungunya em um receptor de transplante renal: relato de caso

ABSTRACT In 2004, a global spread of Chikungunya fever affected most tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In 2016, an outbreak occurred in Northeast Brazil with hundreds of cases documented. Solid organ transplant recipients have a modified immune response to infection and the clinical course is usually different from immunocompetent patients. The diagnosis can be challenging in this population. Most reports describe patients residing in endemic areas, although we must emphasize the importance of differential diagnosis in kidney transplanted travelers who visit endemic regions, such as Northeast Brazil. Here, we reported a case of a kidney transplant recipient that acquired Chikungunya fever after a trip to an endemic region at Northeast Brazil during the outbreak in 2016, with a good clinical evolution. We also present warning recommendations for travelers to endemic areas as additional measures to prevent disease outbreaks.

RESUMO Em 2004, um surto global de Chikungunya afetou a maioria das regiões tropicais e subtropicais do mundo. Em 2016, um surto ocorreu no Nordeste do Brasil com centenas de casos documentados. Receptores de transplantes de órgãos sólidos têm uma resposta imune modificada à infecção, e o curso clínico é geralmente diferente daquele em pacientes imunocompetentes. O diagnóstico pode ser desafiador nessa população. A maioria dos relatos descreve pacientes residentes em áreas endêmicas, embora devamos enfatizar a importância do diagnóstico diferencial em viajantes transplantados renais que visitam regiões endêmicas, como o Nordeste do Brasil. Aqui, nós relatamos o caso de um receptor de transplante renal que adquiriu febre Chikungunya após uma viagem a uma região endêmica no Nordeste do Brasil durante o surto de 2016, com uma boa evolução clínica. Também apresentamos recomendações de alerta para viajantes em áreas endêmicas, como medidas adicionais para prevenir surtos de doenças.

Chikungunya in a kidney transplant recipient: a case report.

In 2004, a global spread of Chikungunya fever affected most tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In 2016, an outbreak occurred in Northeast Brazil with hundreds of cases documented. Solid organ transplant recipients have a modified immune response to infection and the clinical course is usually different from immunocompetent patients. The diagnosis can be challenging in this population. Most reports describe patients residing in endemic areas, although we must emphasize the importance of differential diagnosis in kidney transplanted travelers who visit endemic regions, such as Northeast Brazil. Here, we reported a case of a kidney transplant recipient that acquired Chikungunya fever after a trip to an endemic region at Northeast Brazil during the outbreak in 2016, with a good clinical evolution. We also present warning recommendations for travelers to endemic areas as additional measures to prevent disease outbreaks.

Immunoglobulin Therapy in a Patient With Severe Chikungunya Fever and Vesiculobullous Lesions.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an emerging arbovirus whose transmission has already been reported in several countries. Although the majority of individuals acutely infected with CHIKV appear to become asymptomatic, reports showing the occurrence of atypical and severe forms of the disease are increasing. Among them, the neurological and skin manifestations require medical attention. Treatment of CHIKV infection is almost symptomatic. In this sense, we report the case of a 56-years-old man who presented fever, headaches, paresthesia and pain in the right arm with visible red spots on the skin starting 30 days before Hospital admission. Tests determined Chikungunya infection and excluded other co-morbidities. Disease evolved with edema in hands and feet and extensive hemorrhagic bullous lesions on the skin of upper and lower limbs. Variations in hematological counts associated with liver dysfunction determined this patient's admission to the Intensive Care Unit. Then, he received intravenous antibiotic and immunoglobulin therapy (400 mg/Kg/day for the period of 5 days) with total recovery from the lesions after 10 days of follow-up. A general improvement in blood cell count and successful wound healing was observed. After discharge, no other clinical sign of the disease was reported until nowadays. This case reports for the first time the successful administration of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy to a patient with severe atypical dermatological form of Chikungunya Fever without any associated comorbidity.

Chikungunya disease among infants in French West Indies during the 2014 outbreak.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe the clinical and laboratory features of Chikungunya disease in infants aged from 1 month to 2years. METHODS: This epidemiologic study was carried out at the Pointe-à-Pitre University Hospital from May to September 2014. We collected data prospectively from infants hospitalized for Chikungunya disease. RESULTS: A total of 154 infants were included. Hyperthermia was greater than 38.5°C the first 48h and during on average 2.7 days. Pain (on mobilization and/or cutaneous hyperesthesia and/or arthralgia) was present in 82% of the cases. Loss of appetite was reported for 62% of the infants. Initial maculopapular erythematous eruption occurred in 69% of the cases. A vesiculobullous eruption was secondarily observed in 7% of the cases. Edema on the feet and/or hands was present in 48% of the cases. Febrile seizure was observed in 12% of the cases. Lymphopenia was the most frequent laboratory finding, present in 94% of the infants. No cases of thrombocytopenia were observed. The reported complications were: bullous epidermolysis, state of epilepticus, and severe acute hepatitis. CONCLUSION: This study highlights a suggestive clinical presentation of Chikungunya diseases combining pain, fever, tachycardia, foot and/or hand edema. Lymphopenia, monocytosis, and the absence of thrombocytopenia were relevant biological signs.

Chikungunya: educación y prevención como pilares fundamentales para enfermedad sin cura / Chikungunya: education and prevention as fundamental support for disease without cure

Chikungunya virus is an alphavirus, member of the Togaviridae family, first discovered in Africa in 1952. Since then it caused sporadic outbreaks in Africa and Asia, but since 2000, outbreaks had been more frequent, being identified in Europe, America and the Caribbean. Chikungunya virus can cause chronic and incapacitating arthralgia, with an important morbidity, being considered as a relevant re-emerging public health problem. This review intends to update our knowledge in epidemiology, transmission, pathogenesis, treatment and vaccination strategies of Chikungunya virus. (AU)

Chikungunya Virus: History, Geographic Distribution, Clinical Picture, and Treatment.

Chikungunya fever (CHIKF) is a re-emerging mosquito-borne disease caused by a virus endemic to Africa and Asia. Due to the ease with which its vectors propagate, the virus has spread to India and Europe, and more recently it arrived to the Caribbean, eventually extending into North, Central, and South America. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the most common clinical manifestations are abrupt fever, polyarthralgia, headache, maculopapular rash, myalgia, and nausea/vomiting. Severe joint pain and stiffness have been known to incapacitate some patients from a few days to several months after infection. Fatal cases are rare, but some individuals have been known to develop severe forms of the disease that include neurological and cardiac complications and severe cutaneous manifestations. Additionally, there have been reports of infected mothers miscarrying and newborns that were infected in utero being born with congenital illnesses. Advanced age and various comorbidities have been associated with severe or atypical forms of CHIKF. Currently there are no approved vaccines for the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and treatment aims to alleviate patient symptoms. The re emergence of the CHIKV and its spread to new places around the globe encourage the development of new preventive, diagnostic, and treatment options.

Cellular and Molecular Immune Response to Chikungunya Virus Infection.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emergent arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) that causes a disease characterized primarily by fever, rash and severe persistent polyarthralgia. In the last decade, CHIKV has become a serious public health problem causing several outbreaks around the world. Despite the fact that CHIKV has been around since 1952, our knowledge about immunopathology, innate and adaptive immune response involved in this infectious disease is incomplete. In this review, we provide an updated summary of the current knowledge about immune response to CHIKV and about soluble immunological markers associated with the morbidity, prognosis and chronicity of this arbovirus disease. In addition, we discuss the progress in the research of new vaccines for preventing CHIKV infection and the use of monoclonal antibodies as a promising therapeutic strategy.

Treatment of chikungunya musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Chikungunya virus is amongst the fastest expanding vector transmissible diseases in recent years and has been causing massive epidemics in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Despite human infection by this virus being first described in the 1950s, there is a lack of adequate therapeutic evaluations to guide evidence-based recommendations. The current guidelines rely heavily in specialists' opinion and experience instead of using higher rated evidence. Areas covered: A systematic review of the literature was performed- not restricted to clinical trials - reporting the therapeutic response against this infection with the intent to gather the best evidence of the treatment options against musculoskeletal disorders following chikungunya fever. The 15 studies included in the analysis were categorized considering the initiation of treatment during the acute, subacute and chronic phase. Expert commentary: This review demonstrates the complexity of chikungunya fever and difficulty of therapeutic management. This review found no current evidence-based treatment recommendations for the musculoskeletal disorders following chikungunya fever. To provide an optimal treatment that prevents perpetuation or progression of chikungunya infection to a potentially destructive and permanent condition without causing more harm is an aim that must be pursued by researchers and health professionals working with this disease.

Treatment of chikungunya chronic arthritis: A systematic review.

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.