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Original Article | Surgery | Volume 15 Issue 4, April 2026 | Pages: 344 - 346 | India
Lethal Cytomegalovirus Colitis in a Progressive Guillain-Barre Syndrome: A Case Report
Abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis is a significant cause of morbidity in immunocompromised individuals, though it is increasingly recognized in critically ill and immunomodulated patients. Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), an acute demyelinating polyneuropathy, often requires intensive care management and immunotherapy, predisposing patients to opportunistic infections. We report a case of a 68-year-old female with progressive GBS who developed CMV colitis during hospitalization, leading to a fatal outcome despite appropriate antiviral therapy. The patient presented with acute onset ascending weakness, later complicated by abdominal pain and distension. Imaging revealed large bowel dilatation, while colonoscopy and histopathology confirmed CMV colitis with characteristic inclusion bodies. Despite initiation of ganciclovir and supportive therapy, the patient deteriorated and succumbed to refractory shock. This case highlights the importance of early suspicion, timely diagnosis, and aggressive management of CMV infection in critically ill patients with GBS.
Keywords: Cytomegalovirus colitis, Guillain?Barr? syndrome, immunocompromised, ganciclovir, case report
How to Cite?: Dr. Harsh Gabani, Dr. Jayant L Pednekar, Dr. Anuradha Panchal, Dr. Kailash Jawade, "Lethal Cytomegalovirus Colitis in a Progressive Guillain-Barre Syndrome: A Case Report", Volume 15 Issue 4, April 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 344-346, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26404134552, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26404134552