S5057 Acute CMV Infection Presenting as Superior Mesenteric Vein and Portal Vein Thrombosis: A Rare Case Report

Introduction: Clinical manifestations of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections vary from asymptomatic infections in healthy people to life-threatening end-organ dysfunction in immunocompromised patients. Studies have reported that acute CMV infection has been associated with venous thrombosis. We present a rare case of acute superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and portal vein thrombosis in an immunocompetent patient with acute CMV infection. Case Description/Methods: A 28-year-old man with medical history of obesity presented with 2 days of sharp, 9/10 LUQ pain that radiates to the back, associated with subjective fevers, nausea and loose stools. Patient denies any recent travel, sick contacts, or any other known medical conditions. He takes no medications or herbal supplements. Patient was tachycardic to 140/minute, febrile to 102.5-degree Fahrenheit, tachypneic at 20/minute with a normal oxygen saturation on room air. Physical exam revealed LUQ tenderness to superficial and deep palpation. Labs showed leukocytosis with white blood cell of 18.4 × 109 with predominant lymphocytes of 10.65 × 109, BUN/Cr of 1.26 mg/dl, elevated transaminases with alanine aminotransferase 95 IU/L, aspartate aminotransferase 61 IU/L, ALK 146 g/dl with normal bilirubin. HIV, T-spot and acute hepatitis workup were negative. Blood and stool cultures, C. diff, stool ova and parasites were negative while fecal leukocytes were positive. US duplex of lower extremity and Computed tomography (CT)- angio of chest was negative for DVT and pulmonary embolism respectively. CT-abdomen/pelvis revealed SMV and portal vein thrombosis, hepatomegaly, as well as splenomegaly with multiple splenic infarcts. Patient was started on heparin infusion. Thrombophilia workup was negative, and transthoracic echo was negative for infectious endocarditis. Viral serology testing was positive for CMV IgM and CMV polymerase chain reaction was elevated at 1,222 IU/ml. He was started on ganciclovir and improved clinically. And was discharged on warfarin. Discussion: A meta-analysis has shown that there were nearly 100 cases of CMV-associated thrombosis in the medical literature. A prospective study concluded that acute CMV infection might be associated with an increased short-term VTE risk. A systematic review showed that in immunocompetent patients, splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) and splenic infarction occur in approximately half of the published cases of CMV-associated VTE. Our case highlights that clinicians should be suspicious for acute CMV-induced thrombosis when young, immunocompetent patient present with thrombosis in unusual sites such as portal vein or SMV.

Publication Details

Journal
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
Published
2025-10-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.14309/01.ajg.0001147688.85960.a6
Primary Topic
Liver Disease and Transplantation
Type
article
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article

S5057 Acute CMV Infection Presenting as Superior Mesenteric Vein and Portal Vein Thrombosis: A Rare Case Report

The American Journal of Gastroenterology
Liver Disease and Transplantation
article

S5057 Acute CMV Infection Presenting as Superior Mesenteric Vein and Portal Vein Thrombosis: A Rare Case Report

article en

Abstract

Introduction: Clinical manifestations of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections vary from asymptomatic infections in healthy people to life-threatening end-organ dysfunction in immunocompromised patients. Studies have reported that acute CMV infection has been associated with venous thrombosis. We present a rare case of acute superior mesenteric vein (SMV) and portal vein thrombosis in an immunocompetent patient with acute CMV infection. Case Description/Methods: A 28-year-old man with medical history of obesity presented with 2 days of sharp, 9/10 LUQ pain that radiates to the back, associated with subjective fevers, nausea and loose stools. Patient denies any recent travel, sick contacts, or any other known medical conditions. He takes no medications or herbal supplements. Patient was tachycardic to 140/minute, febrile to 102.5-degree Fahrenheit, tachypneic at 20/minute with a normal oxygen saturation on room air. Physical exam revealed LUQ tenderness to superficial and deep palpation. Labs showed leukocytosis with white blood cell of 18.4 × 109 with predominant lymphocytes of 10.65 × 109, BUN/Cr of 1.26 mg/dl, elevated transaminases with alanine aminotransferase 95 IU/L, aspartate aminotransferase 61 IU/L, ALK 146 g/dl with normal bilirubin. HIV, T-spot and acute hepatitis workup were negative. Blood and stool cultures, C. diff, stool ova and parasites were negative while fecal leukocytes were positive. US duplex of lower extremity and Computed tomography (CT)- angio of chest was negative for DVT and pulmonary embolism respectively. CT-abdomen/pelvis revealed SMV and portal vein thrombosis, hepatomegaly, as well as splenomegaly with multiple splenic infarcts. Patient was started on heparin infusion. Thrombophilia workup was negative, and transthoracic echo was negative for infectious endocarditis. Viral serology testing was positive for CMV IgM and CMV polymerase chain reaction was elevated at 1,222 IU/ml. He was started on ganciclovir and improved clinically. And was discharged on warfarin. Discussion: A meta-analysis has shown that there were nearly 100 cases of CMV-associated thrombosis in the medical literature. A prospective study concluded that acute CMV infection might be associated with an increased short-term VTE risk. A systematic review showed that in immunocompetent patients, splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) and splenic infarction occur in approximately half of the published cases of CMV-associated VTE. Our case highlights that clinicians should be suspicious for acute CMV-induced thrombosis when young, immunocompetent patient present with thrombosis in unusual sites such as portal vein or SMV.

The American Journal of GastroenterologyVol. 120(10S2)
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Liver Disease and Transplantation
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