Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 21, 2013; 19(31): 5178-5181
Published online Aug 21, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i31.5178
Total dysphagia after short course of systemic corticotherapy: Herpes simplex virus esophagitis
Isa Jetté-Côté, Denise Ouellette, Claire Béliveau, Andrew Mitchell
Isa Jetté-Côté, Denise Ouellette, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal H3L 2H8, Canada
Claire Béliveau, Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal H3L 2H8, Canada
Andrew Mitchell, Department of Pathology, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal H3L 2H8, Canada
Author contributions: Jetté-Côté I and Ouellette D wrote the manuscript and provided bronchoscopic images; Béliveau C reviewed immunology and microbiology aspect of the article; and Mitchell A provided the histopathology figures and performed the histopathologic assessment of the reported case.
Correspondence to: Isa Jetté-Côté, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, 5415 Boulevard de l'Assomption, Montreal, QC H1T 2M4, Canada. isa.jette-cote@mail.mcgill.ca
Telephone: +1-514-2523400 Fax: +1-514-2523430
Received: January 23, 2013
Revised: June 4, 2013
Accepted: June 8, 2013
Published online: August 21, 2013
Processing time: 208 Days and 11.7 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: This article reports the case of a 72 year-old female who developed a herpetic esophagitis after 3 d of oral corticotherapy for an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, presenting as odynophagia and total dysphagia. Although immune systemic effects of corticotherapy are well known and herpetic esophagitis occurs most frequently in immunocompromised individuals, this case emphasizes the importance of clinical awareness concerning short courses of corticotherapy for immunocompetent individuals.