| [ Summary ] |
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection persists in a latent state throughout the host's life following primary infection in childhood. However, CMV reactivation often occurs under various conditions, such as post-hematopoietic or solid organ transplantation, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, chemotherapy, corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressant therapies, and in elderly patients. CMV reactivation sometimes leads to symptomatic end-organ involvement, i.e., CMV disease. The gastrointestinal tract is one of the most common sites of CMV disease. It is essential to determine CMV infection in the involved organ by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction assay to make a definite diagnosis of CMV enteritis. The pathophysiology of CMV reactivation differs depending on the underlying disease, for example, the host's weakened immunity and induction by inflammatory signal, such as tumor necrosis factor. Therefore, it is important to take into consideration the underlying conditions that cause CMV infection and the impact on the clinical outcomes of the host in the treatment of patients with CMV enteritis. |