Risk Factors, Endoscopic Features, and Clinical Outcomes of Cytomegalovirus Esophagitis Based on a 10-year Analysis at a Single Center

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can infect multiple areas of the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly the esophagus and colon.¹ CMV esophagitis is the third leading cause of infectious esophagitis, after Candida and herpes simplex virus.² It occurs predominantly in immunocompromised hosts such as patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and is considered an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) defining illness.¹ However, more recent case reports suggest that this disease may also affect the non-HIV immunosuppressed patient population.³ The aim of this study was to reevaluate predictors for development of CMV esophagitis in the post highly active antiretroviral therapy era and describe clinical and endoscopic features of CMV esophagitis as well as patient outcomes from a large tertiary care center.