Severe bleeding from herpes esophagitis.
We describe a patient with the unusual complication of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to herpetic esophagitis, whose bleeding persisted despite a vigorous antireflux regimen but who responded dramatically to intravenous acyclovir. The patient is reported to underscore the importance of considering herpetic infection of the esophagus as a cause of severe gastrointestinal bleeding so that appropriate therapy may be instituted.
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008875:Middle Aged
D000212:Acyclovir