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qPCR Is a Sensitive and Rapid Method for Detection of Cytomegaloviral DNA in Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded Biopsy Tissue
Published on: July 9, 2014
Prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in inflammatory bowel disease patients
Yoshihisa Takahashi1, Tsuyoshi Tange
1Department of Pathology, University Hospital and School of Medicine, Tokyo University, Tokyo, Japan. ytakaha-tky@umin.ac.jp
Purpose:
Although there has been an increasing number of case reports on inflammatory bowel disease complicated by cytomegalovirus infection, few reports have described its prevalence. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in inflammatory bowel disease and clarify the clinicopathologic features of the cases.
Methods:
We studied 55 biopsy specimens and 39 surgical specimens taken from patients clinically diagnosed as having ulcerative colitis, and 49 biopsy specimens and 30 surgical specimens from patients clinically diagnosed as having Crohn's disease. In all cases cytomegalovirus infection was histopathologically examined by means of hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining to detect inclusion bodies in specimens.
Results:
Cytomegalovirus infection was confirmed in 1 of 55 biopsy specimens and in 8 of 39 surgical specimens obtained from the cases with ulcerative colitis. No cytomegalovirus inclusion bodies were exhibited in the 49 biopsy specimens and 30 surgical specimens taken from patients with Crohn's disease.
Conclusions:
Cytomegalovirus infection was detected rather frequently (21 percent) in the surgical specimens of ulcerative colitis, and all cases were steroid resistant. The possibility of cytomegalovirus infection should always be taken into account in patients with ulcerative colitis who are resistant to steroid therapy.
Insights
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is frequently found in ulcerative colitis surgical specimens, particularly in steroid-resistant cases. This highlights the importance of considering CMV in ulcerative colitis patients unresponsive to steroid treatment.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Virology
- Pathology
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD).
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is an opportunistic infection that can complicate IBD.
- Limited data exists on the prevalence of CMV infection in IBD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of CMV infection in patients with IBD.
- To describe the clinicopathologic features of CMV infection in IBD.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological examination of biopsy and surgical specimens from UC and CD patients.
- Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry were used to detect CMV inclusion bodies.
Main Results:
- CMV infection was identified in 8 of 39 surgical specimens (21%) from UC patients.
- No CMV infection was detected in biopsy specimens from UC patients or in any specimens from CD patients.
- All identified CMV infections in UC cases were associated with steroid resistance.
Conclusions:
- CMV infection is relatively common in surgical specimens of ulcerative colitis.
- CMV infection should be considered in steroid-resistant ulcerative colitis cases.
- Further investigation into the role of CMV in IBD pathogenesis is warranted.
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