Profound diarrhoea and weight loss in an immunocompromised patient

George Ashton; Alan Shand; Ian Arnott; Shahida Din

doi:10.1136/bcr-2020-236913

Profound diarrhoea and weight loss in an immunocompromised patient

George Ashton, Alan Shand, Ian Arnott, Shahida Din

Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

A 75-year-old man was admitted with a 3-month history of worsening diarrhoea and weight loss. He was on long-term immunosuppression following cardiac transplantation. Investigations revealed herpes simplex oesophagitis and stool samples were positive for norovirus. Treatment with acyclovir and nitazoxanide resulted in a complete resolution of symptoms. Norovirus is a common cause of infectious gastroenteritis, but immunosuppressed patients may present with chronic diarrhoea rather than an acute illness. This case highlights the importance of a low clinical threshold for testing for norovirus infection in immunocompromised patients.

Original language	English
Article number	e236913
Journal	BMJ Case Reports
Volume	14
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2020-236913
Publication status	Published - 18 Jan 2021

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

Aged
Caliciviridae Infections/complications
Chronic Disease
Diarrhea/immunology
Gastroenteritis/complications
Heart Transplantation
Humans
Immunocompromised Host
Male
Norovirus/isolation & purification
Postoperative Complications/diagnosis
Weight Loss/immunology

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Cite this

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title = "Profound diarrhoea and weight loss in an immunocompromised patient",

abstract = "A 75-year-old man was admitted with a 3-month history of worsening diarrhoea and weight loss. He was on long-term immunosuppression following cardiac transplantation. Investigations revealed herpes simplex oesophagitis and stool samples were positive for norovirus. Treatment with acyclovir and nitazoxanide resulted in a complete resolution of symptoms. Norovirus is a common cause of infectious gastroenteritis, but immunosuppressed patients may present with chronic diarrhoea rather than an acute illness. This case highlights the importance of a low clinical threshold for testing for norovirus infection in immunocompromised patients.",

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T1 - Profound diarrhoea and weight loss in an immunocompromised patient

AU - Ashton, George

AU - Shand, Alan

AU - Arnott, Ian

AU - Din, Shahida

N1 - © BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

PY - 2021/1/18

Y1 - 2021/1/18

N2 - A 75-year-old man was admitted with a 3-month history of worsening diarrhoea and weight loss. He was on long-term immunosuppression following cardiac transplantation. Investigations revealed herpes simplex oesophagitis and stool samples were positive for norovirus. Treatment with acyclovir and nitazoxanide resulted in a complete resolution of symptoms. Norovirus is a common cause of infectious gastroenteritis, but immunosuppressed patients may present with chronic diarrhoea rather than an acute illness. This case highlights the importance of a low clinical threshold for testing for norovirus infection in immunocompromised patients.

AB - A 75-year-old man was admitted with a 3-month history of worsening diarrhoea and weight loss. He was on long-term immunosuppression following cardiac transplantation. Investigations revealed herpes simplex oesophagitis and stool samples were positive for norovirus. Treatment with acyclovir and nitazoxanide resulted in a complete resolution of symptoms. Norovirus is a common cause of infectious gastroenteritis, but immunosuppressed patients may present with chronic diarrhoea rather than an acute illness. This case highlights the importance of a low clinical threshold for testing for norovirus infection in immunocompromised patients.

KW - Aged

KW - Caliciviridae Infections/complications

KW - Chronic Disease

KW - Diarrhea/immunology

KW - Gastroenteritis/complications

KW - Heart Transplantation

KW - Humans

KW - Immunocompromised Host

KW - Male

KW - Norovirus/isolation & purification

KW - Postoperative Complications/diagnosis

KW - Weight Loss/immunology

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DO - 10.1136/bcr-2020-236913

M3 - Article

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SN - 1757-790X

VL - 14

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JF - BMJ Case Reports

IS - 1

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ER -

Profound diarrhoea and weight loss in an immunocompromised patient

Abstract

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

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