valacyclovir and Proctitis

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) typically infects oral or anogenital squamous epithelium and causes blisters and ulcerations. Here we reported an unusual case of HSV induced exuberant rectal inflammatory pseudotumor with vascular endothelial involvement.. A 52-year old man with HIV presented with abdominal pain, rectal drainage and constipation. Proctoscopy and CT scans revealed an 8 × 5 × 4 cm circumferential, mid-lower rectal mass that was concerning for malignancy. PET-CT showed mild to moderate FDG uptake of the rectal mass. Repeated biopsies showed exuberant lymphoplasmacytic inflammation with rich eosinophils and necrosis in the submucosa and scattered single or multi-nucleated viral inclusions in vascular endothelial cells that were positive for HSV by immunostains. There was no evidence of malignancy on histology or by immunostains. The patient started valacyclovir for three weeks and symptoms resolved after the antiviral therapy. Follow-up CT and sigmoidoscopy with biopsy revealed no rectal mass or drainable collection.. HSV may present as proctitis with exuberant inflammatory response and mass-like lesion, and damages vascular endothelial cells in patients with HIV. The HSV-associated mass-like lesion can be effectively treated by 3-week valacyclovir.

Topics: Antiviral Agents; Endothelial Cells; Endothelium, Vascular; Follow-Up Studies; Granuloma, Plasma Cell; Herpes Simplex; Herpesvirus 1, Human; Herpesvirus 2, Human; HIV Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Proctitis; Rectum; Treatment Outcome; Valacyclovir

A man in his late 30s presented with a several-day history of rectal pain, discharge and bleeding associated with systemic upset. Sexual history revealed receptive anal sex with several male partners in the 2 weeks preceding his clinic visit. Examination of the perianal area was unremarkable. Proctoscopy showed evidence of non-ulcerative proctitis. Microscopy for Gram stain showed pus cells plus extracellular Gram-negative diplococci. The patient was treated for presumptive gonorrhoea and chlamydial infection with ceftriaxone, azithromycin and doxycycline. The patient failed to improve with this treatment regimen. Rectal swab results at 48 hours confirmed the causative agent to be herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2. The patient was recalled and treated successfully with valaciclovir. This case serves as a useful reminder to clinicians to consider HSV in the differential diagnosis of sexually transmitted proctitis, in the absence of perianal or anorectal ulceration.

Topics: Adult; Antiviral Agents; Diagnosis, Differential; DNA, Viral; Gonorrhea; Herpes Simplex; Herpesvirus 2, Human; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestinal Mucosa; Male; Proctitis; Rectum; Sexual Behavior; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Valacyclovir