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Cytomegalovirus‐associated protracted diarrhoea in an immunocompetent boy
Author(s) -
Shimizu Masaki,
Ohta Kazuhide,
Wada Hideo,
Sumita Ryo,
Yachie Akihiro,
Koizumi Shoichi
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2006.00851.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cytomegalovirus , cytomegalovirus infections , virology , immunocompetence , pediatrics , human cytomegalovirus , immunology , herpesviridae , viral disease , virus , immune system
Aim: Cytomegalvirus (CMV) gastroenteritis is rarely described in immunocompetent children. We describe here an immunocompetent 1‐year‐old boy with CMV‐associated protracted diarrhoea and discuss the pathogenesis of CMV infection of the gastrointestinal tract. Methods: Immunohistochemical study was performed using a gastric and duodenal tissue of this patient. Furthermore, the detection of CMV‐DNA in stool and urine samples was performed by polymerase chain reaction method. Results: CMV infection was proven by the detection of CMV‐DNA in stool and urine samples and CMV‐positive cells in the immunoperoxidase preparation from gastroduodenal biopsy. The biopsy specimens showed severe chronic active gastroduodenitis with numerous CD3 + T cells and CD68 + macrophages. Conclusions: We speculated from these findings that CMV invasion of the mucosal layer induced an intense immune response characterised by massive infiltration of activated T‐cells and macrophages in this patient. Although the pathogenesis of CMV‐associated gastroenteritis in immunocompetent hosts remains generally unknown, immune mechanism may play some roles in generating the chronic inflammatory lesions.