[Splenic Infarctions Caused by Acute Cytomegalovirus Infection: A Case Report]

We report a 48-year-old healthy man who presented with a 1-week history of fever and epigastric pain. He had traveled to Indonesia and had been in sexual contact with a local woman 4 weeks prior to admission. His peripheral blood film showed atypical reactive lymphocytes. A serological test for cytomegalovirus IgM was positive and the quantitative cytomegalovirus DNA level was 1.1×102 copies/mL, whereas Epstein-Barr virus IgM, HIV antigen and antibody tests were negative. He was diagnosed as having an acute cytomegalovirus infection and was treated with acetaminophen. However, his clinical symptoms deteriorated on the 4th day after admission and a computed tomography examination showed splenomegaly with wedge-shaped splenic infarctions. Blood culture, antinuclear antibodies, antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies, anti-cardiolipin antibodies, and lupus anticoagulant tests were negative. The protein C and protein S activities were normal. He was diagnosed as having a splenic infarction caused by an acute cytomegalovirus infection, and intravenous heparin administration was performed. On day 12, his symptoms had improved and he was discharged. Splenic infarctions caused by acute cytomegalovirus infection can develop in immunocompetent patients without any coagulation disorder. The possibility of splenic infarctions should be considered in patients with acute cytomegalovirus infection, especially those experiencing a worsening of abdominal pain.