We present a case of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in a patient with systemic vasculitis immunosuppressed on cyclophosphamide and prednisolone.The patient presented with a diffuse haemorrhagic oesophagitis ...We present a case of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in a patient with systemic vasculitis immunosuppressed on cyclophosphamide and prednisolone.The patient presented with a diffuse haemorrhagic oesophagitis and a non-specific duodenitis.Biopsies taken from the oesophagus and duodenum demonstrated infection with herpes simplex virus(HSV)and cytomegalovirus(CMV)respectively.Viral infection of the upper gastrointestinal tract is a recognised complication of immunosuppression and HSV is one of the most common pathogens.CMV on the other hand most commonly causes a colitis or less commonly oesophagitis.CMV enteritis is rare as is the synchronous infection with two viral agents in an immunocompromised patient having being described in a few case series only.Viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract in immunocompromised patients should be treated with systemic anti-viral medication and consideration to withdrawal of the immunosuppressive therapy if possible and appropriate.The authors highlight the need for a high suspicion of viral infection in immunosuppressed patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.展开更多
文摘We present a case of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in a patient with systemic vasculitis immunosuppressed on cyclophosphamide and prednisolone.The patient presented with a diffuse haemorrhagic oesophagitis and a non-specific duodenitis.Biopsies taken from the oesophagus and duodenum demonstrated infection with herpes simplex virus(HSV)and cytomegalovirus(CMV)respectively.Viral infection of the upper gastrointestinal tract is a recognised complication of immunosuppression and HSV is one of the most common pathogens.CMV on the other hand most commonly causes a colitis or less commonly oesophagitis.CMV enteritis is rare as is the synchronous infection with two viral agents in an immunocompromised patient having being described in a few case series only.Viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract in immunocompromised patients should be treated with systemic anti-viral medication and consideration to withdrawal of the immunosuppressive therapy if possible and appropriate.The authors highlight the need for a high suspicion of viral infection in immunosuppressed patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
