POSTURAL EPIGASTRIC PAIN - A UNIQUE SYMPTOM OF PRIMARY CYTOMEGALOVIRUS GASTRITIS

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) gastritis has been reported in transplant patien ts. Symptoms are considered nonspecific, and gastroscopy with biopsy i s usually performed to establish the diagnosis. Three patients are des cribed here 1 to 3 months after solid organ transplantation, with prim ary CMV gastritis, confirmed by gastroscopy, histopathologic examinati on and cultures. The clinical presentation in all three cases was shar p epigastric pain that decreased in a supine position, increased while sitting and further increased when standing or walking. The epigastri c pain completely resolved after treatment with ganciclovir, To the be st of our knowledge, such postural epigastric pain has not been descri bed as a specific symptom in any other clinical entity and may be a un ique sign of primary CMV gastritis.