RESUMO
A large epidemic of Chikungunya fever currently affects the Caribbean, Central and South America. Despite a high number of reported cases, little is known on the occurrence of severe clinical complications. We describe four Venezuelan patients with a severe and/or lethal course who exhibit unusual manifestations of the disease. Case 1 describes a 75 year-old man with rapid onset of septic shock and multi-organ failure. Cases 2 and 3 describe two patients with rapid aggressive clinical course who developed shock, severe purpuric lesions and a distinct area large of necrosis in the nasal region. Case 4 depicts a splenectomized woman with shock, generalized purpuric lesions, bullous dermatosis and acronecrosis of an upper limb. Chikungunya fever in the Western hemisphere may also associate with atypical and severe manifestations. Some patients experience a life-threatening, aggressive clinical course, with rapid deterioration and death due to multisystem failure.
RESUMO
Reportamos el caso de una mujer de 46 años de edad, quien presentó recurrentemente en 6 meses, afección inflamatoria del cartílago nasal en silla de montar y obstrucción laríngea, manifestaciones iniciales de una enfermedad multisistémica que compromete pincipalmente el tejido cartilaginoso como es la policondritis recidivante. Se revisa la literatura relacionada con esta patología
