Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2025
Expanding Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes from Umbilical Cord Blood that Target Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr Virus, and Adenovirus
Published on: May 7, 2012
Cytomegalovirus colitis in a child with leukemia: a case report
Seyed Mk Nourbakhsh1, Khadijeh Daneshjoo1, Mohammad Bahadoram2
1Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1416753955, Iran.
Insights
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis is a rare but serious complication in children with leukemia, particularly after chemotherapy. Early diagnosis and ganciclovir treatment are crucial for favorable outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) treatment often involves chemotherapy, which can lead to immunosuppression.
- Immunocompromised pediatric patients are susceptible to opportunistic infections, including viral colitis.
Observation:
- A 17-month-old boy with T-ALL presented with blood-streaked diarrhea post-chemotherapy.
- Initial supportive and empiric treatments for diarrhea were ineffective.
Findings:
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) stool analysis confirmed cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.
- The patient showed a significant clinical improvement after initiating ganciclovir therapy.
Implications:
- Cytomegalovirus colitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of diarrhea in pediatric leukemia patients, especially after chemotherapy.
- Prompt diagnosis and antiviral treatment with ganciclovir can be life-saving in these cases.
Abstract:
A 17-month-old boy with a known case of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was admitted to the authors' hospital because of blood-streaked diarrhea a week after his last chemotherapy session. Initially, he was treated with supportive care and an empiric regimen for opportunistic causes of diarrhea; however, this was not effective. Eventually, evaluation of his stool with PCR showed positivity for cytomegalovirus. Consequently, he responded dramatically to treatment with ganciclovir. Although cytomegalovirus colitis is rare, a few case reports suggest cytomegalovirus as a possible cause of colitis in children with leukemia, which can be fatal and should be considered as a differential diagnosis.
More Related Videos
10:24Automated Cell Enrichment of Cytomegalovirus-specific T cells for Clinical Applications using the Cytokine-capture System
Published on: October 5, 2015
05:53Use of In vivo Imaging to Monitor the Progression of Experimental Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates
Published on: July 6, 2013
Related Concept Videos
01:03Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
01:25Immunodeficiency Diseases
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency...
01:27Disorders of Leukocytes
Leukopenia may result from bone marrow disorders, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. For example, conditions such as multiple myeloma and aplastic anemia can impair the bone marrow's ability to produce adequate leukocytes. Similarly, autoimmune diseases like lupus and viral infections such as HIV can prompt the immune...