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Cytomegaloviral colitis in HIV positive patients: endoscopic findings

Colite por citomegalovírus em pacientes HIV positivo: aspectos endoscópicos

Abstracts

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea in seropositive human immunodeficiency virus patients is one of the most important and disabling symptoms, and often decreases their quality of life. Cytomegalovirus colitis is among the principal causes of this symptom and colonoscopy is the gold standard examination to diagnose it. AIM: To define the main endoscopic findings in seropositive human immunodeficiency virus patients with cytomegalovirus colitis. METHODS: Two hundred and forty-three colonoscopies were performed in 200 seropositive human immunodeficiency virus patients with diarrhea associated or not to abdominal pain or gastrointestinal bleeding, over 10-year period, whom 51 patients were diagnosed with cytomegalovirus colitis. Full length colonoscopy with ileum intubation was always tried and multiple biopsies of all segments examined, including endoscopically normal segments, were attempted. All diagnoses were confirmed by histologic and immunohistochemical studies. RESULTS: Total colonoscopy was possible in 98.03% and ileum intubation in 88.23% of these cytomegalovirus colitis patients. At colonoscopy, a heterogeneous ulcerative pattern was presented in 72.54%, an inflammatory process of the mucosa in 21.56% and 5.88% of the patients mucosa was endoscopically normal. CONCLUSION: Full length colonoscopy with ileum intubation and multiples biopsies of all segments, even when they are endoscopically normal, have always to be attempted in cases of seropositive human immunodeficiency virus patient with diarrhea.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Colitis; Cytomegalovirus infections; Diarrhea; Colonoscopy


RACIONAL: Diarréia em pacientes soropositivos para o vírus da imunodeficiência adquirida é um dos sintomas mais importantes e debilitantes e freqüentemente reduz sua qualidade de vida. Colite por citomegalovírus está entre as principais causas desse sintoma e a colonoscopia é o exame padrão-ouro para seu diagnóstico. OBJETIVO: Definir os principais achados endoscópicos em pacientes HIV+ com colite por citomegalovírus. MÉTODO: Duzentas e quarenta e três colonoscopias foram realizadas em 200 pacientes HIV+ com diarréia associada ou não à dor abdominal ou sangramento gastrointestinal, em período de 10 anos, dos quais 51 pacientes foram diagnosticados com colite por citomegalovírus. Colonoscopia total com entubação ileal foi sempre tentada e múltiplas biopsias de todos os segmentos, incluindo segmentos endoscopicamente normais, foram realizadas. Todos os resultados foram confirmados por estudos histológicos e imunoistoquímicos. RESULTADOS: A colonoscopia total foi possível em 98,03% e entubação ileal em 88,23% dos pacientes com colite por citomegalovírus. Nestes pacientes, identificou-se padrão ulcerativo heterogêneo em 72,54%, processo inflamatório da mucosa em 21,56% e mucosa de aspecto normal em 5,93% das colonoscopias. CONCLUSÃO: Podemos concluir que colonoscopia total com entubação ileal com múltiplas biopsias de todos os segmentos, mesmo quando são endoscopicamente normais, têm que ser sempre realizadas em casos de pacientes HIV+ com diarréia.

Síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida; Colite; Infecções por citomegalovírus; Diarréia; Colonoscopia


ORIGINAL ARTICLE ARTIGO ORIGINAL

Cytomegaloviral colitis in HIV positive patients: endoscopic findings

Colite por citomegalovírus em pacientes HIV positivo: aspectos endoscópicos

Oswaldo Marques Jr; Marcelo Averbach; Esdras Camargo Andrade Zanoni; Paulo Alberto Falco Pires Corrêa; José Luiz Paccos; Raul Cutait

Correspondence Correspondence: Dr. Esdras Camargo A. Zanoni Rua Prof. Pedro Viriato Parigot de Souza, 2500 – apt. 84A 81200-100 – Curitiba, PR, Brazil E-mail: esdras_zanoni@yahoo.com.br

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea in seropositive human immunodeficiency virus patients is one of the most important and disabling symptoms, and often decreases their quality of life. Cytomegalovirus colitis is among the principal causes of this symptom and colonoscopy is the gold standard examination to diagnose it.

AIM: To define the main endoscopic findings in seropositive human immunodeficiency virus patients with cytomegalovirus colitis.

METHODS: Two hundred and forty-three colonoscopies were performed in 200 seropositive human immunodeficiency virus patients with diarrhea associated or not to abdominal pain or gastrointestinal bleeding, over 10-year period, whom 51 patients were diagnosed with cytomegalovirus colitis. Full length colonoscopy with ileum intubation was always tried and multiple biopsies of all segments examined, including endoscopically normal segments, were attempted. All diagnoses were confirmed by histologic and immunohistochemical studies.

RESULTS: Total colonoscopy was possible in 98.03% and ileum intubation in 88.23% of these cytomegalovirus colitis patients. At colonoscopy, a heterogeneous ulcerative pattern was presented in 72.54%, an inflammatory process of the mucosa in 21.56% and 5.88% of the patients mucosa was endoscopically normal.

CONCLUSION: Full length colonoscopy with ileum intubation and multiples biopsies of all segments, even when they are endoscopically normal, have always to be attempted in cases of seropositive human immunodeficiency virus patient with diarrhea.

Headings: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Colitis. Cytomegalovirus infections. Diarrhea. Colonoscopy.

RESUMO

RACIONAL: Diarréia em pacientes soropositivos para o vírus da imunodeficiência adquirida é um dos sintomas mais importantes e debilitantes e freqüentemente reduz sua qualidade de vida. Colite por citomegalovírus está entre as principais causas desse sintoma e a colonoscopia é o exame padrão-ouro para seu diagnóstico.

OBJETIVO: Definir os principais achados endoscópicos em pacientes HIV+ com colite por citomegalovírus.

MÉTODO: Duzentas e quarenta e três colonoscopias foram realizadas em 200 pacientes HIV+ com diarréia associada ou não à dor abdominal ou sangramento gastrointestinal, em período de 10 anos, dos quais 51 pacientes foram diagnosticados com colite por citomegalovírus. Colonoscopia total com entubação ileal foi sempre tentada e múltiplas biopsias de todos os segmentos, incluindo segmentos endoscopicamente normais, foram realizadas. Todos os resultados foram confirmados por estudos histológicos e imunoistoquímicos.

RESULTADOS: A colonoscopia total foi possível em 98,03% e entubação ileal em 88,23% dos pacientes com colite por citomegalovírus. Nestes pacientes, identificou-se padrão ulcerativo heterogêneo em 72,54%, processo inflamatório da mucosa em 21,56% e mucosa de aspecto normal em 5,93% das colonoscopias.

CONCLUSÃO: Podemos concluir que colonoscopia total com entubação ileal com múltiplas biopsias de todos os segmentos, mesmo quando são endoscopicamente normais, têm que ser sempre realizadas em casos de pacientes HIV+ com diarréia.

Descritores: Síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida. Colite. Infecções por citomegalovírus. Diarréia. Colonoscopia.

INTRODUCTION

Two thirds of seropositive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV+) patients develop an unexplained diarrhea sometime during the course of their illness(10,20,32,37). Infectious etiologies account for 30% to 80% of the diarrhea and the chance for detecting an infectious agent depends on patient characteristics and effectiveness of endoscopic of evaluation(26,31,33,37).

In acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with cytomegaloviral (CMV) disease, an infection of the lower gastrointestinal tract occurs most commonly(36). Over 60% of patients with AIDS have serologic evidence of latent CMV infection. CMV is the most common colonic pathogen in HIV+ patients causing 5% to 10% of their colitis(17) and can be one of the pathogens in 45% of patients with severe diarrhea(33).

Colitis due to CMV usually occurs in HIV+ patients with CD4 lymphocyte counts <100 cells/mm³ and has a myriad of presenting symptoms(3,5). Patients more commonly have diarrhea, but can present abdominal pain, fever and loss of weight(21,39). Life-threatening complications may also occur, including massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding(4, 9), colonic perforation(25 34), acute appendicitis(15), ileocecal obstruction(40) and toxic megacolon(1).

Cytomegalovirus colitis (CMVC) is a cause of considerable morbidity and mortality, with previous studies reporting a median survival time from 18 to 71 weeks(6, 7, 16, 19, 23, 38) and recurrence is observed in 36%-75% of patients(6, 7, 23).

Specific treatment according to the results of endoscopy may improve survival in these patients(37). Endoscopic patterns of CMVC in HIV+ patients are heterogeneous, although subepithelial hemorrhage, colitis and/or ulcers can be typical. Its appearance could mimic ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and pseudomembranous colitis(22, 29, 30)

The aim of this report is to present our experience with CMVC in HIV+ patients focusing on the endoscopic appearance.

METHOD

From July 1989 to March 2004, 200 consecutive seropositive patients for human immunodeficiency virus type-1 with at least 3 weeks period of diarrhea underwent colonoscopy were retrospectively identified at "Sirio Libanes" Hospital and "Casa da AIDS", São Paulo, SP, Brazil. They were submitted to 243 colonoscopies.

Patients were prepared with oral 10% manitol solution. The procedures were carried out under sedation with intravenous meperidine and diazepan.

Intubation of the terminal ileum was always tried and achieved in 84.31% of the cases.

Biopsies were taken from ileum and all colonic segments, regardless endoscopic appearance of mucosa.

Concerning endoscopic findings, an ulcer was defined as a well-defined break into the colonic mucosa in greatest dimension and was assessed in its base by open biopsy forceps. Colitis was endoscopically defined as a loss of the normal vascular pattern added by subepithelial hemorrhage and mucosal friability.

Tissue specimens were fixed in 4% formalin and paraffin embedded. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H–E), acid fast stain and Gomori-Grocott. In doubtful cases as protozoa infestation, Giemsa stain was also performed. They were also processed for immunohistochemical staining through CMV monoclonal antibodies.

RESULTS

Over 10-year period 243 colonoscopies were performed on 200 HIV+ patients with diarrhea whom 51 were diagnosed with CMVC. Forty-four of these patients were male and seven were female. The age ranges from 25 to 67 years and the mean age was 37.54 ± 9 years.

The cecum was achieved in 98.03% and ileum intubation was possible in 88.23% of these 51 patients.

Risk factors for HIV-1 infection included homosexuality (n = 25, 49%), heterosexuality (n = 5, 9.8%), drug addiction (n = 2, 3.9%) and not determined (n = 19, 37.3%).

All patients were CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention classification) stage C. The mean CD4 lymphocyte counts were 127.92/mm3 (range 1 to 646/mm3). Fifty-six percent had CD4 lymphocyte counts <50/mm3, 60% CD4 counts <100/mm3 and 80% CD4 counts <200/mm3.

The main reason for colonoscopy was only diarrhea in 42 (82.3%), diarrhea with abdominal pain in 6 (11.8%) and diarrhea with gastrointestinal bleeding in 3 (5.9%) cases.

Endoscopic changes observed in these patients were heterogeneous. The most frequent lesions were ulcers visualized in 37 (72.54%) patients. In 19 (37.25%) patients these ulcers were associated to inflammatory process (Figure 1) and in 18 (35.29%) were not associated (Figures 2 and 3). An inflammatory process of the mucosa, similar to the observed in mild inespecific ulcerative colitis, was the only detectable change in 11 (21.56%) patients (Figure 4). Three patients (5.88%) presented with no endoscopic findings (Table 1).





There were no defined patterns for these ulcers, being some lesions shallow and isolated while others were moderatelly deep and covered with fibrin presenting hyperemic borders. Ulcers with elevated borders (volcano aspect) were also observed (Figure 5). In some cases there were intramural perforations with formation of mucosal bridges due to deeper ulcers (Figure 6).



Two patients had raised purple erythematous lesions resembling Kaposi's sarcoma but showed characteristic inclusion bodies on histopathology.

Pancolonic mucosal abnormalities were seen in 28 patients (54.9%). In 15 (29.4%) the terminal ileum was involved with no predominant pattern. The rectum was attacked in 30 patients (58.8%) and segmental involvement of the colon was found in 17 patients (33.3%). The rectum and sigmoid colon were spared in 9 (17.6%) (Table 2).

In all cases, CMVC was diagnosed by the identification of nuclear and cytoplasmatic inclusions and confirmed by immunohystochemical reaction using anti-CMV monoclonal antibody (Dakopatts, Denmark).

DISCUSSION

The high prevalence of CMV infection of gastrointestinal tract in HIV+ patients and severity of its symptoms, make diagnosis an important rule. CMV has been one of the pathogens in 45% of patients presenting with severe diarrhea(33). In a study from MENTEC et al.(28) was showed a prevalence of 13% in CMV infection on their HIV+ patients with digestive symptoms. In our study we have found a prevalence of 25.5% in CMV infection on HIV+ patients with diarrhea.

Clinical manifestations of CMV infection are not specific(31, 22). The frequency of diarrhea has been reported to be as high as 85% in mucosal cytomegalic inclusion disease and 100% in CMVC(12,30). Abdominal pain is present in 46% to 87.3% of patients(9, 13). CMVC is the most common cause of diarrhea associated with diffuse abdominal pain and that association should therefore raise the index of suspicion for CMVC in a HIV+ patient(35).

Mucosal abnormalities of the colon were present in 48 (94.1%) patients and were absent in 3 (5.88%) patients. In a large report of 252 AIDS patients with CMVC, 97.6% had mucosal abnormalities and 2.4% had normal mucosal aspect(5).

Endoscopic findings vary from hyperemia to hemorrhagic erythema including superficial and deep ulcerations of the colon(30). Cytomegaloviral disease can sometimes resembles pseudomembranous colitis or even coexist with it in AIDS patients as well as in transplant receptors. CMV activation can occur due to inflammatory process of the pseudomembranous colitis, just as it can exacerbates inflammatory bowel disease(18, 21).

Reminiscent violaceous mucosal lesions from Kaposi's sarcoma, but with typical histological features of CMVC have been rarely noted(27, 30) and was present in two of our patients.

The distribution of the lesions on intestine in this report was interesting. The rectosigmoid appeared macroscopically normal in nine (17.6%) of our patients. This finding supports that reported by DIETERICH and RAHMIN(14) who suggested that the reach of flexible sigmoidoscope could misdiagnosis CMVC when it is confined to the proximal colon. BINI et al.(17) also found isolated disease in the proximal colon in 29.3% of 246 patients. Numerous case reports have shown a considerable number of patients with proximal colonic disease(2, 3, 14, 39). It supports our policy of performing colonoscopy instead of flexible sigmoidoscopy in evaluation of HIV+ patients with chronic unexplained diarrhea or gastrointestinal bleeding. On the other hand some investigators have found that flexible sigmoidoscopy is an adequate test to make diagnosis of CMVC(8, 11, 24, 38). Thus, the value of colonoscopy versus flexible sigmoidoscopy in the diagnosis of lower tract infections has not been fully defined and warrants further evaluation.

BINI et al.(17) found statistically significant difference in the distribution of endoscopic appearance of CMVC. In the left colon diffuse mucosal changes with or without ulcers were the most common endoscopic finding. On the other hand, the right colon generally showed isolated ulcers without colitis.

It has also been demonstrated that cells can be infected by CMV even when normal mucosal areas are seen(14, 30). It suggests that on evaluation for suspected CMVC, multiple biopsies must be taken throughout the colon, despite of its normal appearance.

CONCLUSION

Colonoscopy is an important tool to investigate HIV+ patients with gastrointestinal symptoms. CMVC must be considered in the diagnosis of these patients and biopsies have always to be attempted even when there is no mucosal abnormalities.

Recebido em 26/3/2007.

Aprovado em 12/7/2007

Study conducted on "Hospital Sírio Libanês", São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

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  • Correspondence:

    Dr. Esdras Camargo A. Zanoni
    Rua Prof. Pedro Viriato Parigot de Souza, 2500 – apt. 84A
    81200-100 – Curitiba, PR, Brazil
    E-mail:
  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      22 Feb 2008
    • Date of issue
      Dec 2007

    History

    • Accepted
      12 July 2007
    • Received
      26 Mar 2007
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