INTESTINAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS DISEASE IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS MAY BE RULED OUT BY SEARCH FOR CYTOMEGALOVIRUS DNA IN STOOL SAMPLES

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) PCR from stool specimens was adopted as a diagno stic tool for patients with suspected CMV colitis, After being establi shed, the method was evaluated in 17 AIDS patients and 19 other immuno compromised patients by comparison of PCR results with clinical, histo logical, and microbiological or virological data, CMV PCR was positive in 4 symptomatic patients with proven CMV colitis and negative in 15 of 16 patients without characteristic histopathology, Neither CMV immu noglobulin G seropositivity nor intestinal symptoms alone were signifi cantly associated with positive PCR results, but severe active systemi c CMV infection may lead to a positive PCR. Absence of CMV DNA in stoo l samples may prove useful in ruling out CMV related colitis.