S4304 Herpes Esophagitis Due to Cirrhosis-Associated Immune Dysfunction

Introduction: Cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction (CAID) is a broad term covering alterations in the immune system linked to end-stage liver disease. Major components of CAID include immunodeficiency and systemic inflammation, and the severity of the condition correlates with the stage of liver cirrhosis. Although often underrecognized, this condition contributes substantially to morbidity and mortality in patients with cirrhosis, primarily by predisposing them to opportunistic infections. Case Description/Methods: A 57-year-old man patient with alcohol-related liver cirrhosis, which is decompensated with ascites and a history of esophageal variceal hemorrhage, presented to our clinic with complaints of difficulty in swallowing and retrosternal chest pain. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed shallow ulcers across the esophagus with normal-looking mucosa in between, suggesting viral esophagitis. The subsequent pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of herpes simplex virus esophagitis. No immunosuppressive condition other than cirrhosis was found when the patient's comorbidities and medications were assessed. The ulcers markedly receded following intravenous acyclovir 5 mg/kg every 8 hours for 14 days. Discussion: Opportunistic infections can develop in a patient with cirrhosis without any other immunosuppressive condition. This is because cirrhosis itself is associated with immune dysfunction. In our case, the patient had no other diseases or medications affecting immune function; therefore, herpes esophagitis, typically seen in immunocompromised individuals, was considered to have developed in the setting of CAID. Several approaches are currently under investigation to modulate CAID, including targeting bacterial translocation, humoral factors, the bone marrow, and directly targeting immune cells. The differential diagnosis for esophageal ulcers includes reflux esophagitis, peptic ulcer disease, Crohn's disease, Behçet's disease, and drug-induced esophagitis. In our case, the diagnosis of herpes esophagitis is made based on the clinical presentation, endoscopic findings, and histopathological examination. Herpes esophagitis is a serious condition that can cause significant morbidity and mortality. When diagnosed and treated early, patients usually have a good prognosis. However, complications such as esophageal strictures or perforations may develop in some cases.