Risk Factors, Clinical and Endoscopic Features, and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Cytomegalovirus Esophagitis

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) esophagitis is the second most common CMV disease of the gastrointestinal tract. This study aims to comprehensively analyze risk factors, clinical characteristics, endoscopic features, outcomes, and prognostic factors of CMV esophagitis. We retrospectively collected data of patients who underwent esophageal CMV immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining between January 2003 and April 2021 from the pathology database at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Patients were divided into the CMV and non-CMV groups according to the IHC staining results. We enrolled 148 patients (44 CMV and 104 non-CMV patients). The risk factors for CMV esophagitis were male sex, immunocompromised status, and critical illness. The major clinical presentations of CMV esophagitis included epigastric pain (40.9%), fever (36.4%), odynophagia (31.8%), dysphagia (29.5%), and gastrointestinal bleeding (29.5%). Multiple diffuse variable esophageal ulcers were the most common endoscopic feature. The CMV group had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate (18.2% vs. 0%; p < 0.001), higher overall mortality rate (52.3% vs. 14.4%; p < 0.001), and longer admission duration (median, 24 days (interquartile range (IQR), 11−47 days) vs. 14 days (IQR, 7−24 days); p = 0.015) than the non-CMV group. Acute kidney injury (odds ratio (OR), 174.15; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27−23,836.21; p = 0.040) and intensive care unit admission (OR, 26.53; 95% CI 1.06−665.08; p = 0.046) were predictors of in-hospital mortality. In conclusion, the mortality rate of patients with CMV esophagitis was high. Physicians should be aware of the clinical and endoscopic characteristics of CMV esophagitis in high-risk patients for early diagnosis and treatment.

Cytomegalovirus Diseases of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can be fatal. However, very few studies have provided comprehensive analyses and specified the differences in symptoms observed in different parts of the GI tract. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze clinical manifestations and management of GI CMV disease. This retrospective cohort study enrolled the patients who had CMV diseases of the GI tract proved by CMV immunohistochemistry stain from the pathology database in a 4000-bed tertiary medical center between January 2000 and May 2021. The patient characteristics, clinical manifestations, endoscopic features, treatments, outcomes, and prognostic factors were analyzed. A total of 356 patients were enrolled, including 46 infected in the esophagus, 76 in the stomach, 30 in the small intestine, and 204 in the colon. In total, 49.4% patients were immunocompromised. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 20.8%: CMV enteritis had the highest rate (23.3%). Sixty percent of patients received antiviral treatment and 16% were administered both intravenous and oral anti-viral drugs (Combo therapy, minimal and mean treatment duration were 14 and 39.9 ± 25 days). Prognostic factors of in-hospital mortality included age, immune status, albumin level, platelet count, GI bleeding, time-to-diagnosis, and Combo therapy. In the survival analysis, immunocompetent patients receiving Combo therapy had the best survival curve, and immunocompromised patients receiving non-Combo therapy had the worst survival curve. Combo therapy ≥14 days resulted in a better outcome for both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. In conclusion, CMV GI diseases affect both immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts, and a complete treatment course should be considered for patients with poor prognostic factors.

Clinical manifestations, risk factors, and prognostic factors of cytomegalovirus enteritis

BACKGROUND

To comprehensively analyze the risk factors, clinical characteristics, outcomes, and prognostic factors of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) enteritis.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study enrolled patients who had undergone pathological examinations for CMV enteritis. They were divided into CMV and non-CMV groups according to immunohistochemistry staining results. The risk factors, clinical presentations, endoscopic features, treatments, outcomes, and prognostic factors of CMV enteritis were then analyzed.

RESULTS

Forty-two patients (18 CMV, 24 non-CMV group) were included in the study. Major clinical presentations in the CMV group included gastrointestinal bleeding (72.2%), abdominal pain (55.6%), and fever (33.3%); ulcers (72.2%) were the most common endoscopic findings. In-hospital and overall mortality rates were 27.8% and 38.9%, respectively; and longer hospital stays and higher overall mortality rates were observed. Radiotherapy and C-reactive protein levels were prognostic factors for in-hospital mortality. The risk factors for CMV enteritis included immunocompromised status (p = 0.013), steroid use (p = 0.014), shock (p = 0.031), concurrent pneumonia (p = 0.01), antibiotic exposure (p < 0.001), radiotherapy (p = 0.027), chronic kidney disease (p = 0.041), and CMV colitis (p = 0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians should pay attention to the characteristics of CMV enteritis in high-risk patients to make an early diagnosis and potentially improve the clinical outcome.

Vedolizumab combined with surgical resection successfully treated perforating Crohn's disease with peritoneal space to rectal and vaginal fistulas: a case report

Background

Intestinal perforations and fistulas are common complications of Crohn’s disease. However, chronic perforation with peritoneal space to rectal and vaginal fistulas have not been previously reported.

Case presentation

A 38-year-old female suffered from progressive lower abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss. Terminal ileal chronic perforation with intra-abdominal abscess, peritoneal space to rectal and vaginal fistulas were noted. The patient received surgical resection of the cecum and terminal ileum, and then vedolizumab treatment. Three months later, she had complete fistula closure, and her body mass index had increased from 13 to 22.

Conclusion

Vedolizumab combined with stool diversion is effective at treating Crohn’s disease with chronic perforation and complex peritoneal space to rectal and vaginal fistulas.

Systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by Crohn's disease with rectovaginal fistula

Background

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic autoimmune disease, and few cases combine with Crohn’s disease. We present the first SLE patient concurrent with Crohn’s disease and rectovaginal fistula. She was successfully treated with vedolizumab and surgical intervention. Besides, she also had a rare opportunistic infection, cryptococcal pneumonia, in previous adalimumab treatment course.

Case

A 57 year-old female had SLE in disease remission for 27 years. She suffered from progressive rectal ulcers with anal pain and bloody stool, and Crohn’s disease was diagnosed. She received adalimumab, but the lesion still progressed to a rectovaginal fistula. Besides, she suffered from an episode of cryptococcal pneumonia under adalimumab treatment course. Therefore, we changed the biologics to vedolizumab, and arrange a transverse colostomy for stool diversion. She had clinical remission without active inflammation, but the fistula still persisted. Then, she received a restorative proctectomy with colo-anal anastomosis and vaginal repair. Follow-up endoscopy showed no more rectal ulcers or fistula tracts, and contrast enema also noted no residual rectovaginal fistula.

Conclusion

When a SLE patient had unusual rectal ulcers, Crohn’s disease should be considered. Biologics combined with surgical intervention is an optimal solution for Crohn’s disease with rectovaginal fistula. Although cryptococcal pneumonia is a rare opportunistic infection in the biological treatment, we should always keep it in mind.

The Temporal Relationships and Associations between Cutaneous Manifestations and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

The temporal relationships between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated cutaneous manifestations and IBD remain uncertain, with existing evidence mostly from separate cross-sectional studies. We sought to determine the risks of IBD-related dermatologic diseases before and after the diagnosis of IBD. We identified 2847 cases of IBD and 14,235 matched controls from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2003 and 2014. The risks of cutaneous manifestations before and after the diagnosis of IBD were estimated with multivariable-adjusted analyses. At diagnosis, IBD was associated with atopic dermatitis (odds ratio (OR) = 1.61; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14-2.28), erythema nodosum (OR = 7.44; 95%CI, 3.75-14.77), aphthous stomatitis (OR = 2.01; 95%CI, 1.72-2.35), polyarteritis nodosa (OR = 5.67; 95%CI, 2.69-11.98), rosacea (OR = 1.67, 95%CI = 1.19-2.35), and cutaneous T cell lymphoma (OR = 21.27; 95%CI, 2.37-191.00). IBD was associated with the subsequent development of pyoderma gangrenosum (hazard ratio (HR) = 17.79; 95%CI, 6.35-49.86), erythema nodosum (HR = 6.54; 95%CI, 2.83-15.13), polyarteritis nodosa (HR = 2.69; 95%CI, 1.05-6.90), hidradenitis suppurativa (HR = 2.48; 95%CI, 1.03-5.97), psoriasis (HR = 2.19; 95%CI, 1.27-3.79), rosacea (HR = 1.92; 95%CI, 1.39-2.65), and aphthous stomatitis (HR = 1.45; 95%CI, 1.22-1.72). This study clarified the associations and temporal relationships between cutaneous manifestations and IBD, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary care in the patient with specific dermatologic diseases presenting with abdominal symptoms, or the IBD patients with cutaneous lesions.

Vedolizumab in Crohn’s disease with rectal fistulas and presacral abscess: A case report

BACKGROUND

Fistula and intraabdominal abscess are common complications of Crohn’s disease (CD), but complex rectal fistula with abscess formation is rare. Tumor necrosis factor antagonists combined with percutaneous drainage or surgical intervention is optimal treatment for fistulizing CD with intraabdominal abscess. There is no study showing the efficacy of vedolizumab in such complicated condition.

CASE SUMMARY

A 47-year-old man has decompensated liver cirrhosis, Child B. He suffered from abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, fever, and body weight loss. CD with rectoprostatic fistula, rectopresacral fistula, presacral abscess and cyto-megalovirus (CMV) infection were noted. He received antibiotics, anti-viral therapy, transverse colostomy and vedolizumab treatment. Six months later, he had deep remission and complete fistula tracts closure.

CONCLUSION

Early vedolizumab and stool diversion are effective and safe in treating CD with complex rectal fistula with abscess formation.