Cytomegalovirus infection in the pregnant women

Cytomegalovirus enteritis causing ileal perforation in an elderly immunocompetent individual

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is usually subclinical in immunocompetent individuals, however it can be life threatening in an elderly immunocompetent individual. We report a case of CMV enteritis causing ileal perforation in a physically active elderly man. An 88-year-old healthy man presented with abdominal pain and diarrhea. After initial conservative treatment, emergency laparotomy was performed for ileal perforation. The diagnosis of CMV enteritis was based on histological findings revealing many large cells with CMV inclusion bodies in the surgical specimen. In elderly individuals, even though they are immunocompetent, CMV enteritis may result in major complications such as bowel perforation, and it should be included in the differential diagnosis of diarrhea if it is resistant to conventional treatment.

Acute cytomegalovirus infection associated with the onset of inflammatory bowel disease

A 29-year-old man was admitted with high-grade fever, crampy abdominal pain, and watery diarrhea that had persisted for 2 weeks before his admission. Symptomatic treatment (acetaminophen only) was of no benefit. On physical examination, there was diffuse abdominal tenderness. Laboratory tests showed a leukomoid reaction with atypical lymphocytosis, and serology tests revealed acute cytomegalovirus infection. Abdominal computed tomography and colonoscopy revealed an inflammatory process involving the large intestine. On histologic examinations of intestinal biopsy samples, there was an active inflammation with no inclusion bodies. The patient was treated with ganciclovir with only mild improvement. Adding 5-aminosalicylic acid caused little further improvement. Repeated colonoscopy performed 2 months later showed severe chronic ulcerative colitis. Only the addition of systemic steroids caused complete resolution of the symptoms. On review of the literature (Medline search for cytomegalovirus colitis in immunocompetent patients), 18 cases were found. On follow-up, 10 of these patients were found to have inflammatory bowel disease.

Meta-analysis of outcome of cytomegalovirus colitis in immunocompetent hosts

There are only a few anecdotal reports of cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis in immunocompetent hosts. The impact of the disease in this patient population remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis using individual patient data to determine outcomes of CMV colitis in immunocompetent patients and identify risk factors that might influence prognosis. A literature search was performed from 1980 to 2003 looking for immunocompetent patients with CMV colitis. Immunocompetence was defined as absence of congenital or acquired immune deficiency, transplant, or immunosuppressive medication. Patients were divided by age (<55 versus > or =55) and grouped according to coexisting illnesses. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to assess survival. Variables included age, sex, site of acquisition of infection, extent of disease, coexisting illnesses, and treatment modality. A total of 44 patients were identified, with an average age of 61.1. Only 10 were free of any comorbidity. The mean follow-up was 13.4 months. Spontaneous remission occurred in 31.8%, mostly individuals <55 years old. Fourteen deaths occurred, all of which were in patients >55. There was a higher mortality rate among male patients > or =55 (56.9%; P = 0.08), patients with immune-modulating diseases (75.2%; P = 0.10), and those having a colectomy (68.9%; P = 0.09). This analysis underlines the rarity of CMV colitis in patients with an intact immune system. Advanced age, male gender, presence of immune-modulating comorbidities, and need for surgical intervention are factors negatively influencing survival. Conversely, young healthy patients have a good prognosis with no intervention.

Life-threatening cytomegalovirus colitis in the immunocompetent patient: report of a case and review of the literature

Cytomegalovirus colitis in the immunocompetent patient is an unusual clinical entity. We describe a patient with life-threatening cytomegalovirus colitis in the absence of immune deficiency and review the medical literature available on this topic.

Cytomegalovirus colitis in the immunocompetent host: an overview

This paper describes 2 immunocompetent patients with cytomegalovirus colitis and reviews all previously reported cases (n = 13). Affected patients were generally older (69.13+/-15.62 y-old) with probable reactivation (n = 8) or younger (43.86+/-19.73 y-old) with probable primary infection (n = 7). The onset of illness was found to be hospital-associated in 4 (50.0%) reactivation cases and 1 (14.3%) primary case. Presenting manifestations included diarrhoea (86.7%), fever (80.0%), gastrointestinal bleeding (66.7%) and abdominal pain (60.0%). Endoscopy showed erosive colitis with multiple (n = 11; 73.3%) or single ulcers (n = 2, 13.3%); biopsy was diagnostic in 12/13 (92.3%) patients. Complications included massive haemorrhage (13.3%), toxic megacolon (13.3%), perforation (13.3%) and protracted inflammatory bowel disease (20.0%; exclusively in primary-infection). The mortality rate was 26.7%. Antiviral-agents were given in 8 (53.3%) cases; assessment of treatment-efficacy was not possible. In conclusion, cytomegalovirus colitis in the immunocompetent-host is a rare but potentially severe erosive disease with significant morbidity. It may occur during primary infection or reactivation; the diagnosis requires careful histopathological examination and the benefit of antiviral-therapy is unknown.

Toxic megacolon caused by cytomegalovirus colitis in a multiply injured patient

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis is a rare event that has been described mainly in immunocompromised patients with immunosuppressive medication or HIV infection. An association with severe trauma has not been described previously. We report a formerly healthy, multiply injured 75-year-old male who subsequently developed what appeared to be pseudomembranous colitis. By the time the diagnosis of toxic megacolon on the basis of CMV colitis was established, he had succumbed to multiple organ failure. Whenever pseudomembranous colitis is clinically suspected but not confirmed in a critically ill formerly healthy patient, CMV colitis should be excluded. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, generous resection of all affected colon is mandatory in view of the limited benefit of antiviral therapy in CMV-induced toxic megacolon.