Cytomegalovirus esophagitis precipitated with immunosuppression in elderly giant cell arteritis patients

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is generally associated with significant immunosuppression. Cellular immunity is particularly important and corticosteroid treatment increases the risk of CMV infection substantially. Immunocompetence generally decreases with age, older patients are at higher risk for developing CMV disease than are younger patients. CMV infection in the immunocompetent adults is quite rare. Esophagitis is the second most common gastrointestinal manifestation of CMV infection after colitis. Herein, we present three cases of giant cell arteritis who developed CMV esophagitis after various periods of corticosteroid treatment. CMV infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of GI disease in immunocompromised patients, and the clinician should pursue appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions aggressively.