[Cytomegalovirus gastritis in AIDS: several clues for the diagnosis]

We report a case of a patient with AIDS, CMV gastritis and esophageal candidiasis that presented as epigastric pain resistant to H2-receptor antagonists, and fever. Of interest in this case is the presence of cytomegalic inclusion bodies together with oedema and inflamatory infiltrate on the biopsy specimen of gastric mucosa, whereas on endoscopic examination only mild congestion and thickening of cardial folds were present. A response with Ganciclovir was obtained. We stress the importance of histologic examination for inclusion bodies of endoscopically obtained biopsies as a quick diagnostic procedure. The treatment of the acute phase with Foscarnet and Ganciclovir is discussed.