Cytomegalovirus as a potential trigger for systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report

Abstract

Ganciclovir treatment is not completely safe, and there are no clinical guidelines regarding its use in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus triggered by cytomegalovirus infection. Our experience with this case suggests that the decision to administer ganciclovir treatment in pediatric cases should be guided by a variety of factors in addition to the cytomegalovirus antigenemia level. These factors include lymphopenia, renal biopsy results, and cytomegalovirus DNA levels detected by polymerase chain reaction. The details of our patient's presentation and treatment should prove illustrative to other clinicians who face similar cases.