Cytomegalovirus enteritis with ischemia in an immunocompetent patient: A rare case report

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is predominantly an opportunistic infection in the immunocompromised patients. Though, there are few cases of CMV colitis being reported in the immunocompetent individuals, CMV enteritis is exceedingly rare and enteritis leading into small bowel ischemia has never been reported yet.

A-78-year-old male patient presented with distal small obstruction for 4 days duration. Clinical examination revealed a distended abdomen and localised peritonism in right iliac fossa. An initial computed tomography (CT) scan revealed distended small bowel loops up to the thickened inflammed terminal illeum with no free fluid or gas and a normal appendix. No immunosuppressive risk factors such as human immunodeficiency virus, transplant procedures, or steroid therapy were present. Hematologic investigations showed leucocytosis with neutrophilia. Diagnostic laparoscopy confirmed a thickened terminal ileum causing small bowel obstruction. Laparoscopy converted to laparotomy and right hemicolectomy was performed. Histology showed isolated small bowel ischemia with ulcerative changes and cytomegalovirus inclusions. The patient was started on ganciclovir therapy and subsequently had an uneventful recovery and discharged after 16 days.

Cytomegalovirus enteritis was initially not suspected in our patient. In this case CMV caused ischemia of the small bowel without evidence of colonic involvement. Even in elderly patients, the small bowel remains resilient to the ischemic changes because of the copious blood supply.

We report possibly the first case of isolated small bowel ischaemia caused by cytomegalovirus in immunocompetent individuals, needed surgical resection.