CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION IN THE PREGNANT WOMAN

Cytomegaloviruses (CMV) commonly infect man but overt disease only occ urs in few patients; in the vast majority the infection is subclinical . We report on a HIV-negative pregnant woman. She suffered from a life -threatening ulcerating colitis due to CMV infection for which laparot omy was indicated. The case history is presented and suggestions are g iven for the surgical treatment of gastrointestinal complications such as haemorrhage, toxic colitis and perforation. Although CMV disease u sually occurs in immunocompromised patients such as AIDS patients and transplant recipients, one should always keep the possibility of CMV i nfection in mind. The gastrointestinal tract is one of the sites of in fection where the colon and terminal ileum are most frequently involve d in complications such as bleeding and perforation. Gastrointestinal complications of CMV infection, although rare, can be life threatening and often require extensive surgery.