title: Persistent arthralgia associated with chikungunya virus: a study of 88 adult patients on reunion island.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An outbreak of chikungunya virus infection occurred on Reunion Island during the period 2005-2006. Persistent arthralgia after chikungunya virus infection has been reported, but few studies have treated this aspect of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients with laboratory-confirmed acute chikungunya virus infection who were referred to Groupe Hospitalier Sud Reunion during the period 2005-2006 were asked to participate in the study. Patients were assessed a mean of 18 months after acute disease occurred. Assessment consisted of answering questions on a standard form, undergoing a medical examination, and being tested for the presence of IgM antibodies to chikungunya virus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-eight patients (mean age, 58.3 years; male-to-female ratio, 1.1:1.0) were included in this study. Fifty-eight patients (65.9%) had been hospitalized for acute chikungunya virus infection, and a history of arthralgia before chikungunya virus infection was reported by 39 patients (44%). Fifty-six patients (63.6%) reported persistent arthralgia related to chikungunya virus infection, and in almost one-half of the patients, the joint pain had a negative impact on everyday activities. Arthralgia was polyarticular in all cases, and pain was continuous in 31 patients (55.4%). Overall, 35 patients (39.7%) had test results positive for IgM antibodies to chikungunya virus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Persistent and disabling arthralgia was a frequent concern in this cohort of patients who had experienced severe chikungunya virus infection approximately 18 months earlier. Further studies are needed to evaluate the prevalence of persistent arthralgia in the general population to determine the real burden of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Service de Pneumologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Groupe Hospitalier Sud Reunion, Saint Pierre, La Réunion, France.
authors.forename: Gianandrea
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borgherini
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poubeau
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jossaume
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gouix
authors.forename: Liliane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cotte
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michault
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arvin-Berod
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paganin
mesh_terms: D018354:Alphavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M