Cytomegalic inclusion disease

Abstract

Reported and discussed are 20 cases of generalized cytomegalic inclusion disease in infants 2-6 months of age. Criteria for differentiating the neonatal and postnatal form of the condition are suggested on the basis of clinical manifestations and necropsy findings. Generalized cytomegalic inclusion disease was found in 5% of unselected necropsies from the laboratory of morbid anatomy of a Warsaw Children's Hospital. This apparently high figure is probably related to the rather detailed microscopical examination undertaken, since the cytomegalic cells in the investigated organs were most frequently single. Moreover, in 17 of the 20 cases other changes were found, which might have been the cause of death. The problem is discussed, whether during a symptomless, so-called localized, salivary gland infection, single cytomegalic cells may perhaps be formed in other organs, and be associated with persistent viruria.