Cytomegalovirus infection in the setting of occult ulcerative colitis: case report and review of the literature

CMV can infect a variety of organs including gastrointestinal tract, meninges, eyes and other organs depending upon the nature of immune system but it can also manifest as a flare-up in ulcerative colitis patients. It usually presents as loose stools, bright red blood in the stool and weight loss in the patient. In the setting of an Immunocompetent patient, CMV colitis has been diagnosed in patients with occult inflammatory bowel disease. It is usually diagnosed on histology secondary to endoscopic biopsy. We herein report a case of a 73 years old female with CMV colitis found to have underlying ulcerative colitis.