Infectious esophagitis in the immunosuppressed: Candida and beyond.

Kais Zakharia,James H Tabibian

doi:10.33582/2637-4900/1004

Abstract

Infection is the second most common cause of esophagitis, second only to gastroesophageal reflux, and represents a clinically important disorder. Immunosuppressed patients are at highest risk for infectious esophagitis, with CANDIDA, herpes simplex virus, and cytomegalovirus being the most common causative microorganisms. Here we provide a brief clinical review and present a case of concomitant oropharyngeal and presumed esophageal candidiasis in a patient with autoimmune hepatitis who was initiated on high-dose corticosteroid therapy and soon thereafter develop odynodysphagia and who was found to have herpes esophagitis diagnosed by endoscopy and histopathology.

Highlights

Infectious esophagitis is the second most common cause of esophagitis, surpassed only by reflux esophagitis, and represents a clinically important and potentially serious condition
We provide a brief clinical review and present a case of concomitant oropharyngeal and presumed esophageal candidiasis in a patient with autoimmune hepatitis who was initiated on high-dose corticosteroid therapy and soon thereafter develop odynodysphagia and who was found to have herpes esophagitis diagnosed by endoscopy and histopathology
We present the case of a patient receiving corticosteroid therapy for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) who was found to have thrush and developed odynodysphagia thereafter but did not respond to appropriate antifungal treatment; further

Summary

Introduction

Infectious esophagitis is the second most common cause of esophagitis, surpassed only by reflux esophagitis, and represents a clinically important and potentially serious condition. Infection is the second most common cause of esophagitis, second only to gastroesophageal reflux, and represents a clinically important disorder. Immunosuppressed patients are at highest risk for infectious esophagitis, with CANDIDA, herpes simplex virus, and cytomegalovirus being the most common causative microorganisms.

Results

Conclusion