Case Report
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 14, 2009; 15(34): 4327-4330
Published online Sep 14, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.4327
Cytomegalovirus enteritis mimicking Crohn’s disease in a lupus nephritis patient: A case report
Faisal Nazir Khan, Vinod Prasad, Michael David Klein
Faisal Nazir Khan, Vinod Prasad, Department of Nephrology, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States
Michael David Klein, Clinical Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States
Author contributions: Khan FN and Prasad V identified the case, researched the references and literature and prepared the initial draft; Klein MD drafted the final version.
Correspondence to: Dr. Michael David Klein, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Macy Pavilion 2nd floor, Westchester Medical Center, 95 Grasslands Rd, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States. gfrdoc@hotmail.com
Telephone: +1-914-4937701
Received: June 18, 2009
Revised: August 12, 2009
Accepted: August 19, 2009
Published online: September 14, 2009
Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract has been reported in both immunocompetent and, more frequently, in immunocompromised patients. We describe a case of a 19-year-old male who developed CMV infection of the terminal ileum while receiving immunosuppression for lupus nephritis. This was a distinctly unusual site of infection which clinically mimicked Crohn’s ileitis. We note that reports of terminal ileal CMV infection have been infrequent. Despite a complicated hospital course, ganciclovir therapy was effective in resolving his symptoms and normalizing his ileal mucosa. This report highlights the importance of accurate histological diagnosis and clinical follow-up of lupus patients with GI symptoms undergoing intense immunosuppression.

Keywords: Cytomegalovirus; Enteritis; Lupus nephritis; Terminal ileitis