Rajan Ravichandran1, Manju Manian. 1. Madras Institute of Nephrology, Vijaya Heath Centre, N.S.K Salai, Chennai-600026, India. ravidoc55@yahoo.co.in
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chikungunya is an acute viral infection presenting with a febrile episode and severe arthralgia, swelling of soft tissues, especially around the ankles. Many patients recover with nonspecific treatment of analgesics. Some patients continue to have subacute crippling arthritis in the legs affecting their mobility. This study was undertaken to see the effect of the antiviral drug Ribavirin in the clinical outcome of these patients. METHODOLOGY: Ten patients who continued to have crippling lower limb pains and arthritis for at least two weeks after a febrile episode were taken up for the drug study. Ten similar patients during the same period were included as controls. In the study group Ribavirin was given at 200 mg twice a day for seven days. Both groups were followed up for four weeks. RESULTS: All patients in the drug group reported improvement in the joint pains with six of them capable of walking freely. The soft tissue swelling also reduced in eight. In three patients the pain returned after mobilization. Seven patients continued not to receive analgesics after four weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Ribavirin may have a direct antiviral property against Chikungunya leading to faster resolution of joint and soft tissue manifestations.
BACKGROUND: Chikungunya is an acute viral infection presenting with a febrile episode and severe arthralgia, swelling of soft tissues, especially around the ankles. Many patients recover with nonspecific treatment of analgesics. Some patients continue to have subacute crippling arthritis in the legs affecting their mobility. This study was undertaken to see the effect of the antiviral drug Ribavirin in the clinical outcome of these patients. METHODOLOGY: Ten patients who continued to have crippling lower limb pains and arthritis for at least two weeks after a febrile episode were taken up for the drug study. Ten similar patients during the same period were included as controls. In the study group Ribavirin was given at 200 mg twice a day for seven days. Both groups were followed up for four weeks. RESULTS: All patients in the drug group reported improvement in the joint pains with six of them capable of walking freely. The soft tissue swelling also reduced in eight. In three patients the pain returned after mobilization. Seven patients continued not to receive analgesics after four weeks. CONCLUSIONS:Ribavirin may have a direct antiviral property against Chikungunya leading to faster resolution of joint and soft tissue manifestations.
Authors: Aileen Y Chang; Karen A O Martins; Liliana Encinales; St Patrick Reid; Marlon Acuña; Carlos Encinales; Christian B Matranga; Nelly Pacheco; Carlos Cure; Bhavarth Shukla; Teofilo Ruiz Arteta; Richard Amdur; Lisa H Cazares; Melissa Gregory; Michael D Ward; Alexandra Porras; Alejandro Rico Mendoza; Lian Dong; Tara Kenny; Ernie Brueggemann; Lydia G Downey; Priyanka Kamalapathy; Paola Lichtenberger; Orlando Falls; Gary L Simon; Jeffrey M Bethony; Gary S Firestein Journal: Arthritis Rheumatol Date: 2018-03-07 Impact factor: 10.995
Authors: A J Mathew; A Ganapati; J Kabeerdoss; A Nair; N Gupta; P Chebbi; S K Mandal; Debashish Danda Journal: Curr Allergy Asthma Rep Date: 2017-02 Impact factor: 4.806
Authors: Rafidah Lani; Pouya Hassandarvish; Chun Wei Chiam; Ehsan Moghaddam; Justin Jang Hann Chu; Kai Rausalu; Andres Merits; Stephen Higgs; Dana Vanlandingham; Sazaly Abu Bakar; Keivan Zandi Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2015-06-16 Impact factor: 4.379