Fatal mid-gastrointestinal bleeding by cytomegalovirus enteritis in an immuno- competent patient

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are common in immunocom- promised patients but rare in immunocompetent individuals. Gastrointestinal disease is frequent in systemic CMV infections but the small bowel is the least common site of involvement. We present the case of a 66 years-old man, with no evidence of immunological deficiency, hospitalized for unspecific symptoms of diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain, which developed massive mid-gastrointestinal bleeding during hospitalization. Enteroscopy revealed congestive, oedematous mucosa with multiple ulcers in the small bowel. Cytomegalic cells with intranuclear inclusions were found on histologic examination, allowing the diagnosis of CMV infection. Ganciclovir in full therapeutic dose was started and sur- gery was performed as a last resource treatment, but the patient died. This case highlights the rare condition of massive gastrointesti- nal bleeding due to CMV disease of the small bowel, the major importance of enteroscopy and pathologic evaluation for diagnosis and the poor prognosis of this situation. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2009, 72, 245-248).