ORAL INFECTIONS DUE TO CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS

Herpes group virus infections in the immunocompromised host are associ ated with significant morbidity and mortality. Herpes simplex virus (H SV) and to a lesser extent varicella zoster virus (VZV) have long been recognized as causes of oral and peri-oral lesions in subjects underg oing bone marrow transplantation and in individuals infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). A role for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) i n such lesions is less clear and not well documented. This report desc ribes two bone marrow transplant recipients and one individual infecte d with HIV in whom CMV was implicated as the cause of oral lesions. Di agnostic and management issues as well as clinical implications are di scussed.