ABSTRACT
The chikungunya virus epidemic that occurred on Reunion Island from May 2005 to the end of 2006 affected 30% of the population (more than 250 000 people). As a result of its major clinical impact, this outbreak allowed better documentation of the acute phase of the disease. The disease generally has a slowly self-limiting course over a period of several months with rheumatic manifestations. For practitioners, these symptoms raise numerous questions at several levels, i.e., i) role of the virus in pain, ii) most appropriate treatment, and iii) prevention of development of chronic symptoms. This study in two patient cohorts on Reunion Island was carried out in an attempt to improve understanding and management of chronic rheumatic manifestations following chikungunya virus infection. Findings in 360 patients presenting painful manifestations following chikungunya virus infection showed that the risk of developing inflammatory polyarthritis was higher if the initial acute phase lasted longer than 3 weeks. Based on this observation, it is recommended that these patients undergo rheumatologic evaluation at 3 months to assess the need for possible immunosuppressor treatment (methotrexate).
