title: Characteristics of the musculoskeletal symptoms observed among survivors of Ebola virus disease in the Postebogui cohort in Guinea.
abstract: Previous studies show that arthralgia is the most common symptom experienced by Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors. Nevertheless, specific analyses of rheumatological sequelea are still lacking.
  
  
  
  The Postebogui study is a prospective, multicentre cohort aiming to evaluate the long-term outcomes of EVD survivors infected during the 2014-15 outbreak in Guinea. Of the 216 participants enrolled in the study in October 2015, 44 patients with arthralgia/myalgia underwent a physical examination by a rheumatologist (the Eborheum cohort). Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire.
  
  
  
  In the Eborheum cohort, 61% of patients were female, the median age was 31.1 years, and the median time from Ebola Treatment Centre discharge was 8.8 months. Pain manifestation started after Ebola infection in all but one patient. Patients had mainly both mechanical and inflammatory pain (45%) and low back pain (77%). All patients reported pain in at least one peripheral joint. Pain in large joints was more frequently reported than in small joints (73 vs 41%). Oligo- and polyarticular presentations were similar, with symmetrical pain distribution. Furthermore, 36 patients had at least one painful 18-tender point count, most of whom reported extensive pain (n = 19) and symmetrical distribution (91%). Diagnoses were mainly non-specific musculoskeletal disorders (59%) and mechanical back pain (52%). No polyarthritis was observed. We found a higher percentage of depressed patients compared with the remaining Postebogui group (42 vs 11%; P < 0.001).
  
  
  
  Results from the study come from the first complete rheumatological examination of a cohort of EVD survivors, nearly 9 months after Ebola Treatment Centre discharge. Importantly, we found that patients with arthralgia/myalgia included in the Eborheum cohort were more likely to experience depression than survivors not reporting these symptoms, highlighting the impact of pain symptoms among survivors.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immunology and Osteoarticular Diseases Therapeutic Unit, Lapeyronie University Hospital, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Yves-Marie
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Pers
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Department, Donka University National Hospital, Conakry, Guinea.
authors.forename: Mamadou Saliou
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sow
authors.affiliation: IRD UMI 233 INSERM U 1175, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taverne
authors.affiliation: IRD UMI 233 INSERM U 1175, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: March
authors.affiliation: IRD UMI 233 INSERM U 1175, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Izard
authors.affiliation: IRD UMI 233 INSERM U 1175, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Jean François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Étard
authors.affiliation: Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital National Donka, CHU de Conakry, Conakry, BP 925, Guinée.
authors.forename: Moumié
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Conakry University, Conakry, Guinea.
authors.forename: Abdoulaye
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Touré
authors.affiliation: IRD UMI 233 INSERM U 1175, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delaporte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D016701:Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D063806:Myalgia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017741:Survivors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ebola virus; Guinea; arthralgia; arthritis; depression; myalgia; survivors