Cytomegalovirus and systemic lupus: Severe infection and difficult diagnosis

Rev Med Interne. 2009 Jul 15. [Epub ahead of print]

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[Cytomegalovirus and systemic lupus: Severe infection and difficult diagnosis.]

[Article in French]

Leclercq L, Queyrel V, Morell-Dubois S, Dewilde A, Charlanne H, Launay D, Lambert M, Hachulla E, Hatron PY.

Service de médecine interne et centre de référence maladie auto-immunes systémiques, hôpital Claude-Huriez, CHRU de Lille, 1, place de Verdun, 59037 Lille, France.

INTRODUCTION: There are a few reports only on cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in lupus. Diagnosis of this infection is difficult and can be associated with of a poor outcome. We report three cases of infection with CMV that occurred in patients with lupus and review the literature. CASE REPORTS: The three reported patients presented with fever, polyarthritis, myocarditis and enteritis. Lupus was longstanding and the patients were receiving corticosteroids or cyclophosphamide. There was no major CD4 lymphopenia. The diagnosis was obtained with the presence of antigenemia pp65. The outcome was favorable with antiviral therapy in two patients, while the remaining patient died. In the English literature, pulmonary and intestinal involvement seem frequent, and associated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: In systemic lupus CMV infection is often serious and difficult to diagnose. Risk factors, treatment and prophylaxis remain to be evaluated in this population. The incidence of this infection could increase among patients receiving a biotherapy.

PMID: 19615794 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]