Prognostic Value of the Burden of Cytomegalovirus Colonic Reactivation Evaluated by Immunohistochemical Staining in Patients with Active Ulcerative Colitis

摘要

Background Colonic cytomegalovirus [CMV] reactivation has been involved in steroid refractoriness in patients with active ulcerative colitis [UC]. The benefits of antiviral therapy in this clinical setting are still under debate, but the burden of viral reactivation has been associated with a poorer outcome in some studies. Our aim was to assess whether the burden of CMV reactivation measured by the number of viral inclusions by immunohistochemistry [IHC-CMV] is associated with a risk of colectomy.