Cytomegalovirus-associated acute gastric mucosal lesion in an immunocompetent host

Abstract

Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract in cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is commonly observed in immunocompromised hosts. We encountered an immunocompetent patient with CMV associated-acute gastric mucosal lesion (AGML). The emergence of inclusion bodies characteristic of CMV infection in the specimens obtained from the patient's gastric ulcers was helpful in identifying the cause of AGML. The patient recovered without the administration of antiviral drugs. This case illustrates that CMV infection can be one of the causative agents that trigger AGML even in immunocompetent hosts, and that gastric biopsies are extremely useful for ascertaining the etiology of AGML. © 2009 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.