Neuromodulação para o tratamento das artralgias decorrentes da chikungunya

Abstract

The Chikungunya (CHIK) virus is epidemic in Brazil, with 170,000 cases in the first half of 2016. More than 60% of patients present relapsing and remitting chronic arthralgia with debilitating pain lasting years. There are no specific therapeutic agents to treat and rehabilitee infected persons with CHIK. Persistent pain can lead to incapacitation, requiring long-term pharmacological treatment. Advances in non-pharmacological treatments are necessary to promote pain relief without side effects and to restore functionality. Here, we demonstrate that the transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) across the primary motor cortex significantly reduces pain in the chronic phase of CHIK. Our findings suggest tDCS could be an effective, inexpensive and deployable therapy to areas lacking resources with a great number of patients with chronic CHIK persistent pain.