CMV ileitis in an AIDS patient

We describe the case of an Asian man with AIDS who was shown to have CMV as the cause of his severe small bowel disease.

The diagnosis was made by finding CMV inclusions in his terminal ileum. He responded well to a three week course of ganciclovir and then relapsed two weeks later as maintenance treatment was not given.

On repeat induction with ganciclovir he again responded with reduction in severity of his pain and diarrhoea. He is currently on maintenance ganciclovir, but is still troubled by diarrhoea and pain. We discuss CMV and bowel disease in AIDS.