GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME COMPLICATING A CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUS INFECTION

Abstract

In 2006, a major outbreak of Chikungunya fever occurred on Reunion Island involving 297,000 cases (38% of the population). Chikungunya is an arbovirus very rarely associated with neurologic complications. We report three patients presenting with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) after having been infected by the Chikungunya virus. ### Case reports. #### Patient 1. A 51-year-old woman developed facial diplegia followed within 48 hours by tingling sensations and weakness in both hands and feet. She had consulted with her physician 2 weeks before admission, for a viral syndrome including fever, skin rash, and arthralgia. The neurologic examination revealed bilateral facial palsy, quadriparesis more pronounced distally (Medical Research Council [MRC] 3/5) than proximally (MRC 4/5), and global areflexia. A lumbar puncture performed on admission revealed albuminocytologic dissociation. Nerve conduction studies (table) fulfilled criteria1 for GBS. Serologic screening for Campylobacter jejuni , Cytomegalovirus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae , Epstein-Barr virus, Dengue virus, and HIV was negative. View this table: Table …