Adequate antiviral treatment lowers overall complications of cytomegalovirus colitis among inpatients with inflammatory bowel diseases

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis significantly complicates the course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), frequently leading to severe flare-ups and poor outcomes. The role of antiviral therapy in hospitalized IBD patients with CMV colitis is currently under debate. This retrospective analysis seeks to clarify the influence of antiviral treatment on these patients. We retrospectively reviewed IBD patients diagnosed with CMV colitis via immunohistochemistry staining from colonic biopsies at a major tertiary center from January 2000 to May 2021. The study focused on patient demographics, clinical features, risk factors, prognostic indicators, and antiviral treatment outcomes. Among 118 inpatients, 42 had CMV colitis. Risk factors included hypoalbuminemia and antibiotic use. IBD patients with CMV colitis receiving < 14 days of antiviral therapy had higher complication (72