Termografia infravermelha das mãos de mulheres com diferentes períodos de artralgia crônica pós Febre Chikungunya

Abstract

This dissertation, presented as a scientific article, comprises only part of the data collected during the master's course. The remaining data, available at the end of this document, are under analysis for further publication. Objective: To analyze the hands' and fingers' temperature characteristics of women at different chronicity time points after Chikungunya fever (CHIKF). Methods: Fifty-nine women aged 40 to 70 years presenting post-Chikungunya chronic arthralgia (PCCA) were divided into 4 groups: up to 6 (n=12), above 6 up to 12 (n=9), above 12 up to 24 (n=22), and above 24 up to 36 (n=16) months after diagnosis. Skin temperatures of the proximal interphalangeal joints of the five fingers were measured using infrared thermography, the pain level was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and joint mobility was evaluated by the ability to fully flex the interphalangeal joints and the metacarpophalangeal joints (approximation of the fingertips). Results: There were no intragroup differences in finger temperatures. Participants up to 6 months after diagnosis exhibited lower fingers’ temperatures (up to 6 vs. 6-12 mo: thumb 31.3 ± 1.97 vs. 33.0 ± 1.6 °C; index 30.7 ± 2.47 vs. 32.4 ± 1.67 °C; 3rd finger 31 ± 2.6 vs. 33.2 ± 1.42 °C; 4 th finger 31.35 ± 2.45 vs. 32.9 ± 1.0 °C; 5th finger 30.9 ± 2.25 vs. 32.95 ± 1.55 °C; p<0.05) . Two different qualitative patterns of temperature distribution were seen: a homogeneous (n=9) and an heterogeneous (n=50) one. There were no differences among groups regarding pain and joint mobility. Conclusions: The fingers' temperatures are symmetrical among women after CHIKF. Most participants (84.7%) presented a heterogeneous pattern of temperature distribution. The temperature values differ according to disease chronicity, being lower for most recent diagnosis. This is the first study to assess the hands' thermographic characteristics of patients presenting PCCA.