HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IS NOT IMPLICATED IN BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA - A STUDY USING IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY AND THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

Purpose: To evaluate whether human cytomegalovirus (CMV) may play a ro le in the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Materials and Methods: We used immunohistochemistry and the polymerase chain reactio n (PCR) to evaluate the presence of CMV in normal prostatic tissue (n= 12) and BPH tissue (n=21). Results: Immunostaining for CMV in prostati c tissue was negative; however, staining was evident in mononuclear ce lls seen in the tissues of both groups. With nested PCR, CMV genomic m aterial was demonstrated in 1 tissue specimen from each group (p > 0.1 ). Conclusions: These data suggest that CMV is unlikely to be a signif icant factor in the pathogenesis of BPH.