Abstract:
Some systemic viral infections can be linked to development of deep venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism. This association has already been well described in patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C, and influenza. The chikungunya virus is the etiologic agent of chikungunya fever and it has recently been introduced to the American continent. As yet, there is no firm foundation for a relationship between chikungunya and thromboembolism, but the progressive increase in its incidence, the fact that this infection very often causes severe locomotion restrictions due to polyathralgia, and the possibility of direct endothelial injury suggest that cases of venous thromboembolism may begin to be described. In this case report, we describe a patient who developed thrombosis of the right popliteal vein after being admitted for treatment of severe polyathralgia and fever caused by chikungunya virus infection.