Small bowel obstruction caused by inflammatory cytomegalovirus tumor in a renal transplant recipient: report of a rare case and review of the literature

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in renal transplant recipients can present as asymptomatic viremia or CMV syndrome or, in more severe cases, as tissue-invasive disease. CMV enteritis, a common manifestation of CMV invasive disease, usually presents with fever, abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea, and diarrhea, and can be rarely complicated by colon perforation, hemorrhage, or megacolon. CMV infection occurs primarily in the first 6 months post transplantation, when immunosuppression is more intense. We describe the case of a female renal transplant recipient with small bowel obstruction caused by CMV disease 7 years post renal transplantation. The patient presented with diarrhea and abdominal pain. Because of elevated CMV viral load, she was initially treated with antiviral therapy with transient response. Endoscopy and imaging tests showed obstruction of the terminal ileum and, subsequently, the patient underwent exploratory laparotomy when a right hemicolectomy was performed. Biopsy results confirmed the diagnosis of CMV enteritis. Epidemiologic characteristics, clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, therapeutic options, and morbidity-mortality rates of CMV infection/disease, in renal transplant recipients, are reviewed.