An autopsy case of an 18 month old male infant with measles infection
is reported. An autopsy revealed generalized lymphadenopathy, splenome
galy and hyperplastic thymus. Histologically, there were many Warthin-
Finkeldey cells (WFC) in hyperplastic lymphoid tissues. Although viral
particles and inclusions were not detected electronmicroscopically, t
he infection of measles virus was detected in WFC by immunofluorescent
technique using anti-measles antibody. Warthin-Finkeldey cells were m
orphologically and immunohistochemically divided into two groups. The
first type was WFC appearing in the germinal centers of lymphoid tissu
e, revealing many large nuclei and B cell markers. The second type was
WFC appearing in the interfollicular areas and thymus, showing many s
mall hyperchromatic nuclei and T cell markers. The data indicate that
there might be a morphologic and immunophenotypic heterogeneity in WFC
.