Cytokine storm in Chikungunya: Can we call it multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with Chikungunya?

Abstract

Paraguay is currently facing a new outbreak of Chikungunya virus. This report summarizes two severe cases of Chikungunya (CHIKV) infection, confirmed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. We present the cases of patients with acute CHIKV infection and multisystem involvement, with fever, rash, abdominal pain, vomiting, myocarditis, and coronary artery anomalies, very similar to the cases described in MIS-C related to SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Both patients received IVIG and methylprednisolone, with good clinical response. In this setting of cytokine storm in Chikungunya, can we call it "Multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with Chikungunya"?.

Keywords: COVID-19; Chikungunya; Cytokine storm; Multisystem inflammatory syndrome; SARS-CoV-2; Síndrome inflamatorio multisistémico; Tormenta de citoquinas.