CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION AND INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

Abstract

SUMMARY. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a general name of two entities: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis which
represent chronic non-specific inflammation of gastrointestinal tract. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a common viral
infection in humans. It often causes primary infection and later persists lifelong in a latent stage. In different situations of
immunosuppression the virus can reactivate and cause disease, affecting multiple organs including the gastrointestinal tract.
The etiology of IBD is not clear and CMV infection is often associated with IBD. The pathogenetic link between IBD and CMV
infection is discussed in this literature review.
KEYWORDS: inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, cytomegalovirus.