Cytomegalovirus Enterocolitis secondary to experimental COVID-19 therapy

Will R Geisen1, Justin Berger1, Chelsea Schwartz1

  • 1The Christ Hospital, Department of Pathology, Cincinnati, OH, United States.

Idcases
|September 28, 2020
PubMed

Insights

This case study highlights a COVID-19 patient who developed cytomegalovirus colitis after experimental therapy. Colonoscopy proved vital in diagnosing concurrent infections in COVID-19 patients with diarrhea.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid development of experimental therapies due to high mortality and limited clinical data.
  • Uncertain efficacy and poor outcomes were observed with some early experimental treatments for COVID-19.

Observation:

  • A COVID-19 positive male patient developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis and hypovolemic shock following experimental therapy.
  • Diarrhea in COVID-19 patients can be multifactorial, requiring thorough investigation for concurrent infections.

Findings:

  • Cytomegalovirus colitis is a potential complication following experimental COVID-19 treatments.
  • Colonoscopy is an effective diagnostic tool for identifying infectious causes of diarrhea in COVID-19 patients.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering opportunistic infections like CMV colitis in immunocompromised COVID-19 patients undergoing experimental treatments.
  • Diagnostic colonoscopy plays a crucial role in managing gastrointestinal complications in severe COVID-19 cases, guiding appropriate therapeutic interventions.

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