Korean J Med.
2006 Apr;70(4):429-433.
A case of cytomegalovirus colitis in an immunocompetent adult presenting as pancolitis
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. leeoy@hanyang.ac.kr
Abstract
-
CMV is common cause of life-threatening opportunistic viral infection in immunocompromised patients, especially in transplant recipients and those who are infected with HIV. Although CMV infection is generally asymptomatic in healthy adults, CMV colitis can occur in immunocompetent adults. While the right colon is the most common site of gastrointestinal CMV infection, it is extremely rare for it to involve the whole colon. We report a rare case of cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis in an immunocompetent adult presenting as pancolitis. The usual course of gastrointestinal CMV infection is self limited in an immunocompetent adult, but our case revealed that conservative treatment was not enough, and the administration of ganciclovir was essential for the improvement of disease.