Copyright
©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2006; 12(42): 6898-6899
Published online Nov 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i42.6898
Published online Nov 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i42.6898
Cytomegalovirus-associated colitis causing diarrhea in an immunocompetent patient
Dan Carter, David Olchovsky, Russell Pokroy, David Ezra, Internal Medicine A, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dan Carter, MD, Internal Medicine A, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. carterd@zahav.net.il
Telephone: +972-52-2795034 Fax: +972-57-794636
Received: August 3, 2006
Revised: September 25, 2006
Accepted: October 2, 2006
Published online: November 14, 2006
Revised: September 25, 2006
Accepted: October 2, 2006
Published online: November 14, 2006
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis rarely occurs in immunocompetent patients. We report a case of disabling and life threatening diarrhea in an immunocompetent elderly woman due to CMV colitis. The diagnosis of CMV was based on histological examination of tissues biopsied at colonoscopy, positive CMV antigen and high CMV-IgM titer in peripheral blood samples and a good response to systemic gancyclovir treatment. We conclude that CMV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of colitis in elderly immunocompetent patients.
Keywords: Cytomegalovirus; Colitis; Immunocompetent; Diarrhea; Gancyclovir