title: Cytomegalovirus colitis mimicking rectal carcinoma in an immunocompetent elderly woman.
abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis is uncommon in immunocompetent patients, despite a high seroprevalence rate of CMV in the general population. CMV infection has been described in individuals with compromised immune systems: in AIDS, under corticosteroid and immune modulating treatment, with cancer or haematological malignancies. Its most frequent clinical presentation is a necrotising ulcerative form; pseudotumoural CMV colitis has been described as highly exceptional. We report a case of CMV colitis mimicking rectal carcinoma in an immunocompetent elderly woman. The immunosenescence and protein-energy malnutrition increase incidence and severity of infectious diseases in elderly individuals. Immunosenescence may affect all aspects of immunity; severe protein malnutrition modifies mostly cellular immunity, growing susceptibility to infections.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Grenoble Alpes, University Clinic of Geriatric Medicine, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chidlovskii
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Grenoble Alpes, University Clinic of Geriatric Medicine, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Alban
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deroux
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Grenoble Alpes, University Clinic of Geriatric Medicine, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Grenoble Alpes, University Clinic of Geriatric Medicine, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Couturier
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D000068884:Immunosenescence; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012006:Rectovaginal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology