DOI: 10.12890/2024_004263

Challenges in diagnosing post-splenectomy cytomegalovirus mononucleosis

Authors

  • Kim Abbegail Tan Aldecoa Department of Internal Medicine, Trinity Health Oakland, Pontiac, USA; Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
  • Rahul Pidikiti Department of Internal Medicine, Trinity Health Oakland, Pontiac, USA; Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
  • Jaisal Brar Department of Internal Medicine, Trinity Health Oakland, Pontiac, USA; Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
  • Geetha Krishnamoorthy Department of Internal Medicine, Trinity Health Oakland, Pontiac, USA; Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
  • Shamla Kalyan Department of Infectious Diseases, Trinity Health Oakland, Pontiac, USA
  • Cecilia Cosma Department of Internal Medicine, Trinity Health Oakland, Pontiac, USA; Wayne State University, Detroit, USA
  • Pritha Chitagi Department of Internal Medicine, Trinity Health Oakland, Pontiac, USA; Wayne State University, Detroit, USA

aldecoa.kim@gmail.com

Keywords

cytomegalovirus, post-splenectomy, CMV mononucleosis

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is often asymptomatic. However, in certain individuals, it can cause non-specific signs and symptoms that maybe hard to recognise. The condition may therefore be overlooked or misdiagnosed, leading to prolonged illness and serious sequelae. In this case report, we present a rare instance of CMV infection in an HIV-negative patient who had a remote history of splenectomy and was experiencing prolonged fever and markedly elevated white blood cell (WBC) count.

View the entire article

Downloads

References

  1. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Viral Diseases. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Congenital CMV Infection 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/cmv/clinical/overview.html
  2. Zuhair M, Smit GSA, Wallis G, Jabbar F, Smith C, Devleesschauwer B, et al. Estimation of the worldwide seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Med Virol 2019;29:e2034.
  3. Rafailidis PI, Mourtzoukou EG, Varbobitis IC, Falagas ME. Severe cytomegalovirus infection in apparently immunocompetent patients: a systematic review. Virol J 2008;5:47.
  4. Liatsos GD. The immunity features and defects against primary cytomegalovirus infection post-splenectomy indicate an immunocompromised status: Medicine (Baltimore) 2019;98:e17698.
  5. Ram S, Lewis LA, Rice PA. Infections of people with complement deficiencies and patients who have undergone splenectomy. Clin Microbiol Rev 2010;23:740–80.
  6. Han XY, Hellerstedt BA, Koller CA. Postsplenectomy cytomegalovirus mononucleosis is a distinct clinicopathologic syndrome. Am J Med Sci 2010;339:395–399.
  7. Lewis SM, Williams A, Eisenbarth SC. Structure and function of the immune system in the spleen. Sci Immunol 2019;4:eaau6085.
  8. Luu S, Spellman D, Woolley IJ. Post-splenectomy sepsis: preventative strategies, challenges, and solutions. Infect Drug Resist 2019;12:2839–2851.
  9. Razonable RR, Inoue N, Pinninti SG, Boppana SB, Lazzarotto T, Gabrielli L, et al. Clinical diagnostic testing for human cytomegalovirus infections. J Infect Dis 2020;221:S74–S85.
  10. Zachary KC. Ganciclovir and valganciclovir: an overview. [cited 14 November 2023]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/ganciclovir-and-valganciclovir-an-overview

Published

2024-01-08

How to Cite

1.
Aldecoa KAT, Pidikiti R, Brar J, Krishnamoorthy G, Kalyan S, Cosma C, et al. Challenges in diagnosing post-splenectomy cytomegalovirus mononucleosis. EJCRIM [Internet]. 2024 Jan. 8 [cited 2026 Nov. 3];11(2). Available from: https://ejcrim.com/index.php/ejcrim/article/view/4263