title: Cytomegalovirus colitis in a critically ill patient following elective repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
abstract: We describe a case of cytomegalovirus colitis in a critically ill but otherwise immunocompetent 61-year-old male. Infection was demonstrated by histology and confirmed by plasma polymerase chain reaction and detection of cytomegalovirus IgM antibody. The patient was treated with ganciclovir with resolution of the cytomegalovirus viraemia. Cytomegalovirus colitis may be an under-recognised problem in immunocompetent patients who are critically ill. Quantification of plasma cytomegalovirus DNA by polymerase chain reaction is a non-invasive method of supporting the diagnosis and can be used to monitor the treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in the immunocompetent.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Unit, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Helgason
authors.forename: S J M
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Raby
authors.forename: H M H
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kamel
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Laurenson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Templeton
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003092:Colitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D016638:Critical Illness; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015774:Ganciclovir