An Unusual Presentation of Cytomegalovirus Infection: Generalized Edema

Objective: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may rarely lead to protein-losing gastropathy that presents with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and edema in immunocompetent children, but extremely rarely with only generalized edema. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A previously healthy 5-year-old boy presented with generalized edema without any other symptoms. He had hypoalbuminemia but no proteinuria. He was evaluated for gastrointestinal protein loss, and hypertrophic gastropathy was revealed on esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Meanwhile, CMV infection was detected by serologic tests and polymerase chain reaction in the blood. He recovered spontaneously within a week. Conclusion: CMV-related protein-losing gastropathy may present with generalized edema without any gastrointestinal symptoms.

A Gentleman with an Unusual Cause of Hypoalbuminemia

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a rare syndrome of gastrointestinal protein loss that may complicate a variety of diseases. The primary causes can be divided into erosive gastrointestinal disorders, nonerosive gastrointestinal disorders, and disorders involving increased central venous pressure or mesenteric lymphatic obstruction. Herein, we report on a 65-year-old man with PLE caused by invasive gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). To our best knowledge, this is the first reported association between GIST and PLE. A brief review of the literature on the incidence, pathogenesis and management of GIST is also presented.