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Cytomegalovirus Esophagitis in Patients with AIDS
A Clinical, Endoscopic, and Pathologic Correlation
- C. Mel Wilcox, MD;
- David L. Diehl, MD;
- John P. Cello, MD;
- William Margaretten, MD; and
- Mark A. Jacobson, MD
Abstract
Objective: To examine the clinical presentation, endoscopic features, laboratory diagnosis, and outcome of cytomegalovirus esophagitis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Design: Retrospective review of endoscopy records and esophageal biopsy material from patients with AIDS during the 24-month period from 1986 to 1988.
Setting: Urban medical center, central receiving county hospital.
Participants: Sixteen inpatients or outpatients seen by gastroenterology consultants at a single hospital.
Interventions: Endoscopy with multiple mucosal biopsies and viral culture of all esophageal mucosal lesions. Proven or suspected cyclomegalovirus disease was verified in patients using immunohistochemical antibody staining of mucosal biopsy specimens.
Measurements and Main Results: Odynophagia was the most prominent esophageal symptom, seen in 14 of 16 patients with cytomegalovirus esophagitis confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Ulcerations of the esophagus were identified in all but 1 patient and typically appeared as large, solitary, shallow lesions. Routine hematoxylin and eosin staining of esophageal mucosal and submucosal specimens showed intranuclear inclusions in all patients, whereas cytomegalovirus culture was positive in only 8 of 14 patients. Cytomegalovirus esophagitis was associated with a poor long-term prognosis.
Conclusion: Cytomegalovirus esophagitis in patients with AIDS is a well-defined entity with characteristic clinical symptoms and endoscopic findings, as well as histopathologic abnormalities.
Article and Author Information
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From the University of California, San Francisco, and San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California. For current author addresses, see end of text.
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Requests for Reprints: C. Mel Wilcox, MD, Chief, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, Grady Memorial Hospital, 69 Butler Street, SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303.
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Current Author Addresses: Dr. Wilcox: Emory University School of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, 69 Butler Street, SE, Atlanta, GA 30303.
Dr. Cello: 3C-19, San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110.
Dr. Diehl: Wadsworth Veterans Affairs Hospital, Building 115, Room 115, Los Angeles, CA 90073.
Dr. Margaretten: Dean's Office, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143.
Dr. Jacobson: Ward 84, Building 80, San Francisco General Hospital, 995 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110.
- © 1990 American College of Physicians
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