Three patients with systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by cytomegalovirus colitis

We report three female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by massive intestinal hemorrhage during the recovery from lupus nephritis (cases 1, 2) or central nervous system lupus (case 3) on high dose corticosteroid therapy. Large number of cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen-positive leukocytes and cessation of bleeding with concurrent disappearance of the viral antigens after ganciclovir therapy indicated CMV colitis in all of the three patients. No recurrence of the symptom and a favorable response to ganciclovir without reduction in steroid regimen was common to these patients.