title: Candida oesophagitis with hepatitis C virus: an uncommon association.
abstract: Candida oesophagitis is an acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining illness. We report a 28-year-old woman who presented with Candida oesophagitis with underlying chronic hepatitis C. The patient presented with anorexia and weakness and was noted to have raised serum transaminases. Upper-gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed Candida oesophagitis involving the whole oesophagus. Oesophageal biopsy demonstrated changes consistent with Candida oesophagitis. Serology was positive for hepatitis C antibodies, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyped hepatitis C virus (HCV) as genotype 3. Liver biopsy revealed chronic hepatitis with moderately active portal inflammation. A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test was non-reactive for types 1 and 2. The development of Candida oesophagitis in a patient with chronic HCV infection demands prompt consideration of general debility and immunosuppression as effects of HCV that led to an occurrence of opportunistic infection. Evaluation of this case provides insight into various mechanisms of immune suppression associated with HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. yakoobjaved@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yakoob
authors.forename: Wasim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jafri
authors.forename: Akbar S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hussainy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000473:pathology; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology