A case series of post-infectious chikungunya myeloradiculoneuropathy

J Neurol Sci. 2024 Apr 15:459:122955. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.122955. Epub 2024 Mar 14.

Abstract

Chikungunya fever is an arboviral illness caused by chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and transmitted by the bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. It is an RNA virus belonging to the genus Alphavirus and family Togaviridae. We present a case series of three patients with chikungunya illness developing para/post-infectious myeloradiculoneuropathy.These patients developed neurological symptoms in the form of bilateral lower limb weakness with sensory and bowel involvement after the recovery from the initial acute episode of chikungunya fever. Clinical examination findings suggested myeloradiculoneuropathy with normal Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Spine, with the nerve conduction study showing sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy. All the patients were treated with 1 g of methylprednisolone once a day for five days, and case 2 was given intravenous immunoglobulin also. In the follow-up, cases 1 and 2 showed complete recovery without recurrence, and case 3 did not show improvement at one month.

Keywords: Chikungunya fever; EMG (electromyography); IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulins); Myeloradiculopathy; NCS (nerve conduction study).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aedes*
  • Animals
  • Chikungunya Fever* / complications
  • Chikungunya Fever* / diagnostic imaging
  • Chikungunya Fever* / drug therapy
  • Chikungunya virus* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Insect Vectors

Supplementary concepts

  • Aedes albopictus