CMV in the gut: a critical review of CMV detection in the immunocompetent host with colitis

Long-Term Follow Up of Patients Treated for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Cytomegalovirus Colitis

BACKGROUND

Pathological reactivation of latent Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is triggered by inflammation and immunosuppression; both present in the pathogenesis and treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Whether CMV reactivation is associated with escalating medical therapy, further hospital admissions, or worse clinical outcomes remains controversial. This study aimed to follow up IBD patients with an index episode of CMV colitis and analyse the clinical outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective study of patients with IBD treated for CMV colitis was completed. The outcome results were collected at 6-month and 12-month time points after the first episode of CMV colitis. A total of 13 patients with Ulcerative Colitis and 1 with Crohn's Disease were included.

RESULTS

CMV colitis recurrence occurred in 29% of patients at 12 months. A total of 43% of patients had changed their biologic dose at 6 months and 29% had escalated their biologic dose at 12 months. At 12 months, 36% of patients had been re-hospitalised, including three colectomies. Disease remission was only achieved by 29% of patients at 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

IBD patients with CMV colitis have substantial rates of re-hospitalisation, failed medical therapy, and colectomy. These risks may be greater at <6 months from an index episode of CMV colitis.

Cytomegalovirus Infection in Adult Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Literature Review

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is classified within the Herpesvirales order and is prevalent in 50%‒80% of the general population. Most carriers experience this infection without noticeable clinical symptoms. HCMV causes a lifelong latent infection that can be reactivated due to immune disorders and inflammation. The reactivation of HCMV becomes particularly significant when it coincides with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis in IBD patients was identified years ago, the role of CMV in triggering flare-ups, acute severe colitis, treatment resistance, and other outcomes in IBD patients experiencing CMV reactivation remains a subject of ongoing debate. In this review, we aim to address an updated insight into aspects related to the CMV colitis in IBD patients including epidemiology, risk factors, clinical features, diagnostic tests, histology, place of immunosuppressants and indications for antiviral treatment. We suggest for personalized and thorough assessment based on the disease phase and colitis severity when prescribing drugs to these patients. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of regular patient follow-up to monitor drug side effects, ensuring treatment success, and minimizing the risk of colectomy.

Cytomegalovirus Diseases of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Immunocompetent Patients: A Narrative Review

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a potential pathogen that causes gastrointestinal (GI) tract diseases regardless of host immunity. In contrast to immunocompromised individuals, immunocompetent patients lack a comprehensive overview of the gastrointestinal manifestations. This study aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the current evidence regarding presentations, diagnostics, management, risk assessment, and outcomes in immunocompetent patients with CMV GI disease. A thorough literature search of English publications up to April 2022 was conducted across electronic databases to identify relevant articles, with eligible case series selected for detailed analysis. The majority of immunocompetent patients affected by CMV GI disease are typically elderly, critically ill, or burdened with comorbidities that compromise immunity. Clinical presentations range from subtle symptoms to severe surgical conditions, including instances of mortality. Specific clinical presentations, blood test results, or endoscopic features are lacking, necessitating reliance on histopathological tests such as immunohistochemistry staining for diagnosis. While antiviral therapy may offer benefits in improving outcomes, careful individual assessment is warranted due to diverse comorbidities and potential side effects. Mortality rates vary considerably based on underlying medical conditions and therapeutic approaches. It is imperative for clinicians to maintain vigilance for CMV GI disease among high-risk groups, despite their baseline immunocompetence, in order to enhance clinical outcomes.

Cytomegalovirus colitis in immunocompetent hosts: A case report and literature review

Key Clinical Message

Rectal bleeding can manifest cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis even in immunocompetent patients, which can be cured with ganciclovir treatment.

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an opportunistic virus widely affecting immunocompromised patients. Different manifestations varied from asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals to end organ involvement, such as colitis in those with immunodeficiency. Despite the rarity of CMV colitis in immunocompetent hosts, we should consider it when the other conditions have been excluded. In this article, we have described a case of CMV colitis in an immunocompetent host and have performed a literature review on this entity. An immunocompetent 70-year-old female was admitted to the hospital with recurrent rectal bleeding. After various evaluations including laboratory analysis, stool examination, and colonoscopy, we have detected superficial lesions. Pathology and polymerase chain reaction reports favored CMV involvement. Her condition continues to improve after intravenous ganciclovir infusion. Rectal bleeding can manifest CMV colitis even in immunocompetent patients, which can be cured with ganciclovir treatment.

Utility of Machine Learning to Detect Cytomegalovirus in Digital Hematoxylin and Eosin-Stained Slides

Rapid and accurate cytomegalovirus (CMV) identification in immunosuppressed or immunocompromised patients presenting with diarrhea is essential for therapeutic management. Due to viral latency, however, the gold standard for CMV diagnosis remains to identify viral cytopathic inclusions on routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained tissue sections. Therefore, biopsies may be taken and "rushed" for pathology evaluation. Here, we propose the use of artificial intelligence to detect CMV inclusions on routine H&E-stained whole-slide images to aid pathologists in evaluating these cases. Fifty-eight representative H&E slides from 30 cases with CMV inclusions were identified and scanned. The resulting whole-slide images were manually annotated for CMV inclusions and tiled into 300 × 300 pixel patches. Patches containing annotations were labeled "positive," and these tiles were oversampled with image augmentation to account for class imbalance. The remaining patches were labeled "negative." Data were then divided into training, validation, and holdout sets. Multiple deep learning models were provided with training data, and their performance was analyzed. All tested models showed excellent performance. The highest performance was seen using the EfficientNetV2BO model, which had a test (holdout) accuracy of 99.93%, precision of 100.0%, recall (sensitivity) of 99.85%, and area under the curve of 0.9998. Of 518,941 images in the holdout set, there were only 346 false negatives and 2 false positives. This shows proof of concept for the use of digital tools to assist pathologists in screening "rush" biopsies for CMV infection. Given the high precision, cases screened as "positive" can be quickly confirmed by a pathologist, reducing missed CMV inclusions and improving the confidence of preliminary results. Additionally, this may reduce the need for immunohistochemistry in limited tissue samples, reducing associated costs and turnaround time.

Cytomegalovirus enteritis resistant to antiviral drugs improved following total colectomy

BACKGROUND

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, often subclinical in childhood, is reactivated during a state of cell-mediated immunodeficiency. In cases of organ damage, patients can require medical treatment for an infectious disease, generally through the use of antiviral drugs. There are no reports of surgical treatment in cases, where infection was found, and medical treatment was difficult. We encountered a case of CMV enteritis that was difficult to treat because of resistance to antivirals but improved after total colectomy.

CASE PRESENTATION

A previously healthy, 74-year-old woman visited a doctor with a chief complaint of watery diarrhea persisting for 2 weeks; she was transferred to our hospital because of hypoxemia and hypovolemic shock. Computed tomography scan indicated wall thickening over the entire colon and the patient was diagnosed with infectious colitis. Conservative and antibacterial therapies were started with fasting fluid replacement. Subsequently, bloody stools were observed 11 days after admission. Colonoscopy was then performed, which showed mucosal edema and longitudinal ulcer, while a histopathological examination of the colon mucosa revealed C7HRP positive on 22 days after admission. CMV enteritis was diagnosed, and the antiviral medication, ganciclovir, was started. Diseases causing immunosuppression and other possible causes of enteritis were also closely examined; however, all were negative. Furthermore, the patient's symptoms and her endoscopic findings did not improve with ganciclovir administration; therefore, the antiviral drug was changed to foscarnet. Unfortunately, the patient did not improve despite the additional administration of gamma globulin and methylprednisolone, and she was determined to have enteritis resistant to medical therapy. A total colon resection was performed 88 days after the admission. Her condition gradually stabilized postoperatively, and oral intake was initiated and tolerated. The patient was transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation for home discharge. She is now at home and has had no recurrences.

CONCLUSIONS

In previous reports of surgical treatment for CMV enteritis, many cases were initially undiagnosed, emergency surgery was performed after perforation or stenosis was recognized, and then CMV was diagnosed and treated. In CMV enteritis without immunodeficiency, surgical treatment may be an option if medical treatment is ineffective.

[Severe cytomegalovirus-associated protein losing gastropathy in an immunocompetent adult]

INTRODUCTION

Clinical expression of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is numerous and depends on the immune status of the host. In immunocompromised patients, CMV disease corresponds to reactivation of the virus with tissue damage responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. In immunocompetent adults, primary CMV infection is usually asymptomatic but may rarely result in severe organ damage.

OBSERVATION

We report the case of a 28-year-old man, considered immunocompetent and without medical history, presenting with a primary CMV infection revealed by a severe protein-losing gastroenteropathy (serum albumin level: 18.9g/L). The CT scan showed a gastro-duodeno-jejuno-ileitis pattern. Upper intestinal endoscopy revealed diffuse ulcerated and congestive gastritis predominantly in the fundus. Histological analysis of the biopsies showed no viral inclusion and no immunohistochemical staining reaction, but a high viral load (5.61 log). Treatment was symptomatic associated with anticoagulation due to the major hypoalbuminemia. The patient slowly recovered, and normal clinical examination and blood tests were observed two months after the onset of symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Severe CMV organ involvement in the immunocompetent patient is very rare but potentially serious. Digestive involvement complicated by exudative enteropathy is possible. Evolution is usually favorable without the need for antiviral treatment.

Lingering SARS-CoV-2 in Gastric and Gallbladder Tissues of Patients with Previous COVID-19 Infection Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

BACKGROUND

Lingering severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in gut tissue might be a source of infection during bariatric surgery. This study aimed to confirm the presence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid in gastric and gallbladder tissues removed during bariatric surgery in individuals previously infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who had negative polymerase chain reaction results prior to the surgery.

METHODS

Gastric and gallbladder specimens from 80 patients who underwent bariatric surgery between November 2021 and May 2022 and had a history of COVID-19 infection with gastrointestinal symptoms were examined for the presence of lingering SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid proteins using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Gastric specimens from 26 (32.5%) patients and 4 (100%) cholecystectomy specimens showed positive cytoplasmic staining for the anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein in surface mucosal epithelial cells. The mean age was 37.8 ± 10.3 years. The average body mass index was 44.2 ± 7.0 kg/m²; most of the patients were females (71.3%). The positive staining group was significantly younger than the negative staining group (p = 0.007). The full-dose vaccination rate was 58.8%, with a median of 91 days after the last vaccine dose. A positive serological anti-spike IgG response was observed in 99% of the patients. The median time between initial COVID-19 infection and surgery was 274 and 380 days in the positive and negative staining groups, respectively (p = 0.371).

CONCLUSION

Gastric and gallbladder tissues can retain SARS-CoV-2 particles for a long time after COVID-19 infection, handling stomach specimens from patients during an operation must be done with care, as we usually do, but now with the knowledge that in 1/3 of patients they can be present. Performing LSG on post-COVID patients did not seem to increase perioperative morbidity.

Comparative clinical manifestations and immune effects of cytomegalovirus infections following distinct types of immunosuppression

BACKGROUND

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a well-recognized complication of solid organ and hematopoietic cell transplantation. However, CMV infection also occurs in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, previously immunocompetent intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and individuals on immunosuppressive medications for various underlying diseases.

OBJECTIVES

This review describes the comparative effects of CMV infection in distinct types of acquired immunosuppression.

SOURCES

Selected peer-reviewed publications on CMV infections published until December 2021.

CONTENT

CMV infection affects various organ systems through direct cytolytic mechanisms, but may also exert indirect effects by promoting pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive responses. This has been well studied in transplant recipients, for whom antiviral prophylaxis and pre-emptive therapy have now become standard practice. These strategies not only prevent direct CMV disease manifestations, but also mitigate various immunopathological processes to reduce graft-versus-host disease, graft rejection, and the occurrence of secondary bacterial and fungal infections. The efficacy of neither prophylactic nor pre-emptive treatment of CMV infection has been demonstrated for patients with critical illness- or medication-induced immunosuppression. Many observational studies have shown an independent association between CMV reactivation and a prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation or increased mortality in the ICU. Furthermore, data suggest that CMV reactivation may increase pulmonary inflammation and prolong the duration of mechanical ventilation.

IMPLICATIONS

A large number of observational and experimental studies suggest attributable morbidity and mortality related to CMV infection, not only in transplant recipients and patients with HIV infection but also in patients with critically illness- or medication-induced immunosuppression. Adequately powered randomized controlled trials investigating the efficacy of prophylaxis or pre-emptive treatment of CMV infection in these patients are lacking, with a notable exception for transplant recipients.

2021 European Guideline on the management of proctitis, proctocolitis and enteritis caused by sexually transmissible pathogens

This guideline intents to offer guidance on the diagnosis and management of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and a suspected sexually transmitted cause. Proctitis is defined as an inflammatory syndrome of the anal canal and/or the rectum. Infectious proctitis can be sexually transmitted via genital-anal mucosal contact, but some also via digital contact and toys. Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis (including lymphogranuloma venereum), Treponema pallidum and herpes simplex virus are the most common sexually transmitted anorectal pathogens. Shigellosis can be transferred via oral-anal contact and may lead to proctocolitis or enteritis. Although most studies on these infections have concentrated on men who have sex with men (MSM), women having anal intercourse may also be at risk. A presumptive clinical diagnosis of proctitis can be made when there are symptoms and signs, and a definitive diagnosis when the results of laboratory tests are available. The symptoms of proctitis include anorectal itching, pain, tenesmus, bleeding, constipation and discharge in and around the anal canal. The majority of rectal chlamydia and gonococcal infections are asymptomatic and can only be detected by laboratory tests. Therefore, especially when there is a history of receptive anal contact, exclusion of anorectal infections is generally indicated as part of standard screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Condom use does not guarantee protection from STIs, which are often spread without penile penetration. New in this updated guideline is: (i) lymphogranuloma venereum proctitis is increasingly found in HIV-negative MSM, (ii) anorectal Mycoplasma genitalium infection should be considered in patients with symptomatic proctitis after exclusion of other common causations such N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis, syphilis and herpes, (iii) intestinal spirochetosis incidentally found in colonic biopsies should not be confused with syphilis, and (iv) traumatic causes of proctitis should be considered in sexually active patients.

Cytomegalovirus enterocolitis with subsequent diagnosis of coexisting new-onset inflammatory bowel disease: Two case reports and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Gastrointestinal (GI) cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection coexisting with or followed by a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is infrequently reported. Not recognizing this condition may delay IBD diagnosis in patients with GI-CMV disease who do not or partially respond to antiviral agents, which could consequently result in unsatisfied treatment outcomes.

PATIENT CONCERNS

Two immunocompetent patients with no known underlying GI conditions presented with acute bloody diarrhea. The first patient developed diarrhea and hematochezia after admission to intensive care unit (ICU) because of severe alcoholic pancreatitis for 10 days duration. Computed tomography abdomen showed segmental jejunal thickening. The other patient presented with a 1-week history of severe bloody diarrhea which required ICU admission. Colonoscopy showed multiple ulcers along terminal ileum and colon.

DIAGNOSIS

These 2 patients were initially diagnosed with CMV jejunitis and ileocolitis, respectively, based on endoscopic and histopathologic findings. Both had partial response to treatment with 3 weeks of intravenous ganciclovir. Crohn disease was suspected because of persistent ulcerations on the follow-up endoscopy with the presence of pathological features of chronic inflammation and disappearance of previously detected CMV-infected cells.

INTERVENTION

Both patients were treated with systemic corticosteroids and azathioprine.

OUTCOMES

Both patients had complete clinical improvement. Prednisolone could be tapered off in 6 months. Follow-up video capsule endoscopy (VCE) at 6 months showed improvement of mucosal inflammation and ulcers, but neither were completely healed in the first patient. Follow-up colonoscopy at 6 months showed complete resolution of ulcers and inflammation in the second patient.

LESSONS

IBD should be suspected in patients with a diagnosis of GI-CMV disease who are immunocompetent and have a partial response to antiviral agents. This clinical scenario could be caused by either CMV infection activating immune response resulting in IBD onset, or CMV infection superimposed on pre-existing latent IBD.

Acute CMV hepatitis in an immunocompetent patient

A previously well and immunocompetent 64-year-old woman presented with fever of unknown origin and acute hepatitis. Besides headache and nausea, she had no other symptoms. Her clinical examination was unremarkable with no clear focus of infection. She was thoroughly investigated and her biochemical profile suggested a viral or autoimmune aetiology. Multiple imaging modalities gave no further insight. Her serology and subsequent nucleic acid amplification indicated reactivation of latent cytomegalovirus (CMV). Her symptoms resolved with supportive care and no anti-viral therapy was needed. This case report highlights CMV reactivation leading to acute hepatitis in a well, immunocompetent patient.

Impact of porcine cytomegalovirus on long-term orthotopic cardiac xenotransplant survival

Xenotransplantation using pig organs has achieved survival times up to 195 days in pig orthotopic heart transplantation into baboons. Here we demonstrate that in addition to an improved immunosuppressive regimen, non-ischaemic preservation with continuous perfusion and control of post-transplantation growth of the transplant, prevention of transmission of the porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) plays an important role in achieving long survival times. For the first time we demonstrate that PCMV transmission in orthotopic pig heart xenotransplantation was associated with a reduced survival time of the transplant and increased levels of IL-6 and TNFα were found in the transplanted baboon. Furthermore, high levels of tPA-PAI-1 complexes were found, suggesting a complete loss of the pro-fibrinolytic properties of the endothelial cells. These data show that PCMV has an important impact on transplant survival and call for elimination of PCMV from donor pigs.

Cytomegalovirus and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) with a Special Focus on the Link with Ulcerative Colitis (UC)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infects approximately 40% of adults in France and persists lifelong as a latent agent in different organs, including gut. A close relationship is observed between inflammation that favors viral expression and viral replication that exacerbates inflammation. In this context, CMV colitis may impact the prognosis of patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), and notably those with ulcerative colitis (UC). In UC, the mucosal inflammation and T helper cell (TH) 2 cytokines, together with immunomodulatory drugs used for controlling flare-ups, favor viral reactivation within the gut, which, in turn, increases mucosal inflammation, impairs corticoid and immunosuppressor efficacy (the probability of steroid resistance is multiplied by more than 20 in the case of CMV colitis), and enhances the risk for colectomy. This review emphasizes the virological tools that are recommended for exploring CMV colitis during inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and underlines the interest of using ganciclovir for treating flare-ups associated to CMV colitis in UC patients.

Opportunistic bowel infection after corticosteroid dosage tapering in a stage IV lung cancer patient with tislelizumab-related colitis

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, the new standard in cancer therapy, present durable responses in numerous solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, as well as resulting in an increased incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Diarrhea is a common irAE, with an incidence rate of approximately 10% to 13%. It is important to distinguish between diarrhea symptomatic of an infection, which is the main differential diagnosis, and immune-related diarrhea. Here, we report a case of an advanced lung cancer patient who presented with diarrhea as a result of treatment with tislelizumab, a novel PD-1 inhibitor. Although the patient initially responded to corticosteroid treatment, diarrhea recurred upon dosage tapering, and eventually improved on treatment with ganciclovir and vancomycin. Therefore, clinicians must remain highly vigilant against infection and carefully distinguish symptoms of infection from irAEs by performing repeated blood or fecal examinations for pathogens, colonoscopy, and biopsy.

Severe Bleeding due to Cytomegalovirus Esophagitis in a Patient with Diabetes after Interbody Fusion Surgery

A 49-year-old man with diabetes taking clopidogrel and celecoxib underwent interbody fusion surgery for spinal spondylolysis. Ten days after the surgery, he vomited a large amount of fresh blood. A blood examination revealed hemodynamic failure. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed an adherent blood clot and multiple superficial ulcers in the esophagus. Endoscopic hemostasis was successfully achieved. Biopsy specimens from the esophageal ulcer showed positive immunohistochemical staining results for anti-CMV antibodies. The esophageal ulcer improved after the oral administration of ganciclovir. This case emphasizes that CMV esophagitis with bleeding can occur in a diabetic patient with a poor nutritional status due to relative immune dysfunction.

The Significance of So-Called Equivocal Immunohistochemical Staining for Cytomegalovirus in Colorectal Biopsies

CONTEXT.—

Recent studies examining immunohistochemical staining of colorectal biopsies for cytomegalovirus (CMV) reported that some cases showed only occasional small positive nuclei that were called equivocal for CMV.

OBJECTIVES.—

To determine the extent and clinical significance of equivocal CMV staining in colorectal biopsies.

DESIGN.—

Two-hundred twenty-one consecutive cases of colon and rectal biopsies that were stained for CMV by immunohistochemistry were retrieved from our files and reviewed. Staining results were recorded as negative, unequivocal, or equivocal. Results were correlated with clinicopathologic data, results of polymerase chain reaction studies for CMV, and treatment history.

RESULTS.—

Fifty-two cases (24% of all tested, 63% of positive cases) showed equivocal staining for CMV, and of these, 41 had follow-up information. Polymerase chain reaction for CMV was performed largely on blood samples and was not found to be sensitive for the detections of CMV proctocolitis. Of 25 patients who received antiviral treatment, 21 (84%) had complete resolution of symptoms, compared with 8 of 16 (50%) who did not receive antivirals (P = .02). There was no statistically significant difference in response to antiviral drugs in patients with equivocal and unequivocal CMV staining (P = .17).

CONCLUSIONS.—

Equivocal CMV staining likely represents true CMV proctocolitis. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Risk factors associated with the vertical transmission of cytomegalovirus in seropositive pregnant women

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) is the leading cause of childhood disabilities. More recent data indicates that cCMV following maternal nonprimary infection occurs frequently and can cause similar rates of sequelae as those following maternal primary infection. However, the risks associated with cCMV especially in CMV-seropositive women remain unclear. This review summarizes potential risk factors of cCMV in seropositive women with perspectives on the causal link including sociodemographic factors, virological characteristics, the host immune system, genomics, metabonomics and proteomics. These observations and some new molecular markers, although not yet validated as a reliable tool predictive of cCMV, could be the basis for designing future prospective studies.

Prognostic Value of the Burden of Cytomegalovirus Colonic Reactivation Evaluated by Immunohistochemical Staining in Patients with Active Ulcerative Colitis

BACKGROUND

Colonic cytomegalovirus [CMV] reactivation has been involved in steroid refractoriness in patients with active ulcerative colitis [UC]. The benefits of antiviral therapy in this clinical setting are still under debate, but the burden of viral reactivation has been associated with a poorer outcome in some studies. Our aim was to assess whether the burden of CMV reactivation measured by the number of viral inclusions by immunohistochemistry [IHC-CMV] is associated with a risk of colectomy.

METHODS

Biopsy sets of UC patients with positive IHC-CMV were identified from the Pathology departments of three university hospitals. All biopsies were reviewed by expert pathologists, and the maximum number of IHC-CMV-positive cells in each biopsy set was re-assessed. Epidemiological and clinical features and clinical outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

Forty-six positive IHC-CMV cases with UC were included. At the time of CMV reactivation, 70% were receiving corticosteroids, 33% azathioprine, and 24% anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF] agents. Thirty-two patients [70%] were treated with antiviral therapy. The median number of IHC-CMV-positive cells was 2 cells/biopsy [IQR 1-4]. Fourteen patients [30%] underwent colectomy, and 4 of them [29%] showed persistence of CMV in the surgical specimen. In the multivariate analysis, colectomy was only associated with >2 positive cells/biopsy [p = 0.048] and younger age [p = 0.023].

CONCLUSIONS

The burden of CMV colonic reactivation in patients with active UC, as measured by IHC, seems to be related to the risk of colectomy, and more data is needed to understand whether antiviral therapy guided by CMV burden will alter the clinical outcome.

Diagnosis and Management of CMV Colitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis is a relatively common end-organ infectious complication in immunocompromised hosts which negatively affects clinical outcomes. This paper presents the contemporary approaches to the diagnosis and management of CMV colitis and discusses some of the controversies of this condition, focusing on methods of diagnosis.

RECENT FINDINGS

While certain risk factors for CMV colitis are well recognized, the clinical as well as endoscopic features of this condition are nonspecific. Rapid diagnosis and management are usually needed, especially in critically ill patients, which necessitate invasive diagnostic procedures. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of colonic mucosal tissue may show the typical viral inclusions associated with CMV colitis that are highly specific for this condition. However, the staining has low sensitivity compared to immunohistochemistry, which is considered the gold standard for diagnosis of CMV colitis. Tissue polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is highly sensitive for diagnosis, but is controversial for many reasons, detailed in this paper. A high index of suspicion is needed, and once diagnosis is made, treatment should be highly considered to improve the outcome of these severely ill patients. Noninvasive diagnostic tests will be available in the future and will hopefully improve the diagnosis and care of patients with CMV colitis.

Critical Care Viral Infections

Viral infections are a common cause of critical illness, particularly of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems. Most are managed by supportive care alone. Early identification is critical to proper care to facilitate antimicrobial de-escalation. A small subset of viruses has directed treatment, and critical care providers should be knowledgeable about the diagnosis and treatment of influenza, herpes simplex meningoencephalitis, and viral hepatitis. Antivirals can reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with each of these illnesses.

Checkpoint inhibitors: What gastroenterologists need to know

Checkpoint inhibitors are increasingly being used in clinical practice. They can cause various gastrointestinal, hepatic and pancreatic side effects. As these side effects can be serious, appropriate management is essential. The different checkpoint inhibitors with their mechanisms of action and indications, as well as evaluation and management of gastrointestinal, hepatic and pancreatic side effects, are discussed in this article.

Outcome of Cytomegalovirus Colitis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease with Different Regimes of Ganciclovir

BACKGROUND Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is common in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and is responsible for relapse, increased severity, and poor outcome if left untreated. Ganciclovir is the mainstay of treatment but data regarding its use, mode of administration, and duration of treatment is poorly described. We reviewed the practice of treating CMV colitis with different regimes of ganciclovir at a district NHS hospital to compare the clinical outcome. METHODS 35 patients with IBD and concurrent diagnosis of CMV infection were evaluated. The parameters studied were clinical outcome in term of clinical response, length of hospital stay, readmission, or colectomy with three different regimes of ganciclovir, in addition to treatment for IBD. RESULTS 35 patients with IBD (ulcerative colitis = 23, Crohn's disease = 5, Indeterminate colitis = 7) and positive diagnosis of CMV infection were studied. Clinical outcome with two weeks of intravenous (IV) ganciclovir regime was superior than one week of IV ganciclovir and two weeks of oral Valganciclovir in term of clinical response on day 15 (95.8% vs 74%, 24.3%, respectively p = 0.45) and colectomy rate within 3 months (6.25% vs 27.3%, vs 25%, respectively). CONCLUSION CMV colitis is associated with poor outcome in patient with IBD if left untreated. 2 weeks IV ganciclovir was associated with a better outcome than 1 week of IV treatment or oral treatment.

Prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in patients with ulcerative colitis: a prospective cross-sectional study in Tehran, Iran

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been reported in ulcerative colitis (UC), but limited data are available on its prevalence in Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of CMV infection in patients with UC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in 86 consecutive patients with UC. Prevalence of CMV infection was determined by rectal biopsies for hematoxylin and eosin staining and PCR. CMV-positive specimens was measured for CMV loads by real-time PCR assay.

RESULTS

In six out of 86 (7%) patients with UC, CMV was diagnosed. These patients had detectable CMV DNA in their biopsies as indicated by PCR. In all CMV-positive patients, viral load was more than 250 copy/mg. Histochemical staining did not show any CMV inclusion bodies. No significant demographic and clinical differences existed between patients with and without a CMV infection.

CONCLUSION

UC and its treatment may put patients at risk of CMV infection. Real-time PCR test for the detection of CMV in UC patients may enable diagnosis of CMV infection with a high sensitivity and allow effective treatment to be administered in these patients. The impact of antiviral therapy on the clinical outcome of the UC patients with CMV remains to be elucidated.

Severe ischemic cytomegalovirus proctocolitis with multiple perforation

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) typically causes gastrointestinal infections in immunocompetent patients. Colonic perforations secondary to CMV are exceeding rare. We describe a 88-year-old male presenting with a week-long history of intractable abdominal discomfort, bloating, nausea and diarrhea. Flexible sigmoidoscopy revealed significant ulceration with yellowish slough. Emergency surgery was performed subsequently in view of multiple perforations in the rectosigmoid junction. CMV gastrointestinal infections demonstrated an ischemic process secondary to vasculitis, which accelerated the pathway to colonic perforation. CMV gastrointestinal infection should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with colonoscopy findings similar to ischemic colitis and Clostridium difficile infections.

Clinical characteristics of cytomegalovirus colitis: a 15-year experience from a tertiary reference center

BACKGROUND

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis is considered rare in immunocompetent patients.

OBJECTIVE

The predictors of mortality and the differences between immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients with this disease remain unknown. Thus, the aim of this retrospective cohort study was to clarify these issues.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We enrolled all patients who were histologically diagnosed with CMV colitis between April 2002 and December 2016 in the Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Patients were divided into two groups: immunocompetent and immunocompromised, and the differences between them were analyzed to develop in-hospital mortality predictors.

RESULTS

A total of 69 patients (42, immunocompetent; 27, immunocompromised) were enrolled. The most common symptoms were melena in the immunocompetent group and diarrhea in the immunocompromised group. The in-hospital mortality rate showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (26.2% vs 25.9%, P=0.981). Early diagnosis was the only significant independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.075, 95% CI 1.005-1.149, P=0.035). The cutoff of diagnostic timing was 9 days from admission, derived from the receiver operating characteristic curve using the Youden index.

CONCLUSION

CMV colitis in immunocompetent patients is markedly more common and fatal than has generally been acknowledged. Being alert to different ways in which this disease can present itself will enable early diagnosis and significantly reduce mortality.

Management of acute severe ulcerative colitis in children

The incidence of pediatric-onset ulcerative colitis (UC) is rising. Children often present with a more severe disease phenotype as compared to adults with over a third requiring hospitalization for the management of acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC). Further, in pediatric patients presenting with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) limited to the colon, a definitive diagnosis of UC vs. Crohn's disease is often unclear. Here, we review the unique aspects of pediatric ASUC including the epidemiology, diagnosis, medical, and surgical management of this disease.

Cytomegalovirus colitis in a patient undergoing postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for lung adenocarcinoma with uracil-tegafur

When we examine a patient with symptoms of acute enteritis in the course of chemotherapy with oral fluoropyrimidines such as uracil-tegafur (often referred to as UFT), we usually suspect 5-fluorouracil-induced enterocolitis. In case of persistent clinical symptoms despite discontinuation of chemotherapy, cytomegalovirus colitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chemotherapy-induced enterocolitis. We herein report the case of a patient who underwent surgery for lung adenocarcinoma followed by postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with uracil-tegafur and was diagnosed as having cytomegalovirus colitis during the therapy. In the course of chemotherapy, cytomegalovirus colitis occasionally occurs even though the patient does not experience severe myelosuppression; thus, it is necessary that we recognize its potential occurrence.

Enzymatically enhanced collisions on ultramicroelectrodes for specific and rapid detection of individual viruses

We report the specific collision of a single murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) on a platinum ultramicroelectrode (UME, radius of 1 μm). Antibody directed against the viral surface protein glycoprotein B functionalized with glucose oxidase (GOx) allowed for specific detection of the virus in solution and a biological sample (urine). The oxidation of ferrocene methanol to ferrocenium methanol was carried out at the electrode surface, and the ferrocenium methanol acted as the cosubstrate to GOx to catalyze the oxidation of glucose to gluconolactone. In the presence of glucose, the incident collision of a GOx-covered virus onto the UME while ferrocene methanol was being oxidized produced stepwise increases in current as observed by amperometry. These current increases were observed due to the feedback loop of ferrocene methanol to the surface of the electrode after GOx reduces ferrocenium methanol back to ferrocene. Negative controls (i) without glucose, (ii) with an irrelevant virus (murine gammaherpesvirus 68), and (iii) without either virus do not display these current increases. Stepwise current decreases were observed for the prior two negative controls and no discrete events were observed for the latter. We further apply this method to the detection of MCMV in urine of infected mice. The method provides for a selective, rapid, and sensitive detection technique based on electrochemical collisions.

Enzymatically enhanced collisions on ultramicroelectrodes for specific and rapid detection of individual viruses

We report the specific collision of a single murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) on a platinum ultramicroelectrode (UME, radius of 1 μm). Antibody directed against the viral surface protein glycoprotein B functionalized with glucose oxidase (GOx) allowed for specific detection of the virus in solution and a biological sample (urine). The oxidation of ferrocene methanol to ferrocenium methanol was carried out at the electrode surface, and the ferrocenium methanol acted as the cosubstrate to GOx to catalyze the oxidation of glucose to gluconolactone. In the presence of glucose, the incident collision of a GOx-covered virus onto the UME while ferrocene methanol was being oxidized produced stepwise increases in current as observed by amperometry. These current increases were observed due to the feedback loop of ferrocene methanol to the surface of the electrode after GOx reduces ferrocenium methanol back to ferrocene. Negative controls (i) without glucose, (ii) with an irrelevant virus (murine gammaherpesvirus 68), and (iii) without either virus do not display these current increases. Stepwise current decreases were observed for the prior two negative controls and no discrete events were observed for the latter. We further apply this method to the detection of MCMV in urine of infected mice. The method provides for a selective, rapid, and sensitive detection technique based on electrochemical collisions.

Primary colorectal lymphoma comprising both components of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma combined with cytomegalovirus colitis

A 16-year-old girl presented to our hospital with diarrhea and abdominal pain. The macroscopic findings of colonoscopy revealed multiple submucosal tumors and multiple ulcers, which were localized in the sigmoid colon, and diffuse granular mucosa which extended to the total colon. The pathological diagnosis was malignant lymphoma comprising both components of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, because the large lymphoma cells were CD20+, CD10-, and CD5-. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis of colorectal biopsy samples from multiple ulcers revealed cytomegalovirus (CMV)-positive cells. The patient was diagnosed with primary colorectal lymphoma comprising both components of DLBCL and MALT lymphoma combined with CMV colitis. She received anti-viral medication and chemotherapy.

Cytomegalovirus and ulcerative colitis: Place of antiviral therapy

The link between cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and inflammatory bowel diseases remains an important subject of debate. CMV infection is frequent in ulcerative colitis (UC) and has been shown to be potentially harmful. CMV reactivation needs to be diagnosed using methods that include in situ detection of viral markers by immunohistochemistry or by nucleic acid amplification techniques. Determination of the density of infection using quantitative tools (numbers of infected cells or copies of the genome) is particularly important. Although CMV reactivation can be considered as an innocent bystander in active flare-ups of refractory UC, an increasing number of studies suggest a deleterious role of CMV in this situation. The presence of colonic CMV infection is possibly linked to a decreased response to steroids and other immunosuppressive agents. Some treatments, notably steroids and cyclosporine A, have been shown to favor CMV reactivation, which seems not to be the case for therapies using anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs. According to these findings, in flare-ups of refractory UC, it is now recommended to look for the presence of CMV reactivation by using quantitative tools in colonic biopsies and to treat them with ganciclovir in cases of high viral load or severe disease.

Intestinal Behçet's Disease: A True Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Merely an Intestinal Complication of Systemic Vasculitis?

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multi-systemic inflammatory disorder of an unknown etiology and shows a chronic recurrent clinical course. When the disease involves the alimentary tract, it is called intestinal BD because of its clinical importance. Intestinal BD is more frequently reported in East Asian countries than in Western or Middle Eastern countries. While any part of the gastrointestinal tract can be involved, the most common location of intestinal BD is the ileocecal area. A few, large, deep ulcerations with discrete border are characteristic endoscopic findings of intestinal BD. Currently, there is no single gold standard test or pathognomonic finding of intestinal BD. However, recently developed novel diagnostic criteria and a disease activity index have helped in assessing intestinal BD. As intestinal BD shares a lot of characteristics with inflammatory bowel disease, including genetic background, clinical manifestations, and therapeutic strategies, distinguishing between the two diseases in clinical practice is quite difficult. However, biologic agents such as anti-tumor necrosis factor α antibody shows a considerable efficacy similar to inflammatory bowel disease cases. It is important to distinguish and treat those two disease entities separately from the standpoint of precise medicine. Clinicians should require comprehensive knowledge regarding the similarities and differences between intestinal BD and inflammatory bowel disease for making an accurate clinical decision.

Evaluation of a multiplex PCR assay for detection of cytomegalovirus in stool samples from patients with ulcerative colitis

AIM: To evaluate a multiplex PCR assay for the detection of bacterial and viral enteropathogens in stool samples from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

METHODS: We prospectively analyzed 300 individuals, including immunocompetent patients, immunocompromised patients, and patients with UC. Stool samples were collected from the recto-sigmoid region of the colon by endoscopy. The samples were qualitatively analyzed for bacterial and viral enteropathogens with a multiplex PCR assay using a Seeplex^® Kit. Additional clinical and laboratory data were collected from the medical records.

RESULTS: A multiplex PCR assay detected 397 pathogens (191 bacteria and 206 viruses) in 215 samples (71.7%). The most frequently detected bacteria were Escherichia coli H7, 85 (28.3%); followed by Aeromonas spp., 43 (14.3%); and Clostridium perfringens, 36 (12.0%) samples. The most prevalent viruses were Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), 90 (30.0%); followed by human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6), 53 (17.7%); and cytomegalovirus (CMV), 37 (12.3%) samples. The prevalence rate of CMV infection was significantly higher in the immunocompromised group than in the immunocompetent group (P < 0.01). CMV infection was more common in patients with UC (26/71; 36.6%) than in the immunocompetent patients excluding UC (6/188; 3.2%) (P < 0.01). CMV infection was more prevalent in UC active patients (25/58; 43.1%) than in UC inactive patients (1/13; 7.7%) (P < 0.05). Among 4 groups which defined by the UC activity and immunosuppressive drugs, the prevalence rate of CMV infection was highest in the UC active patients with immunosuppressive drugs (19/34; 55.8%). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection was more common in the immunocompromised patients excluding UC (18/41; 43.9%) than in the immunocompetent patients excluding UC (47/188; 25.0%) (P < 0.05). The simultaneous presence of CMV and EBV and/or HHV6 in UC active patients (14/58; 24.1%) was greater than in immunocompromised patients excluding UC (5/41; 12.2%) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The multiplex PCR assay that was used to analyze the stool samples in this study may serve as a non-invasive approach that can be used to exclude the possibility of CMV infection in patients with active UC who are treated with immunosuppressive therapy.