Successful Antibiotic Treatment of Phlegmonous Gastritis Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Intern Med. 2025 Jan 3. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.4830-24. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Phlegmonous gastritis (PG) is a rare, life-threatening bacterial infection characterized by thickening of the gastric wall. We report a case of PG in a 17-year-old male following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for severe aplastic anemia. Seven months after transplantation, the patient presented with severe abdominal pain, fever, and significant gastric wall thickening on CT. Initial antibiotic therapy was initiated immediately. The patient developed multiple organ failure; however, his condition rapidly improved with intensive care. After two weeks, the patient improved and was successfully discharged. This is the first report of PG after transplantation, highlighting the need for an early diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: antibiotics; aplastic anemia; bone marrow transplantation; phlegmonous gastritis.