[Cytomegalovirus infection as a cause of intestinal perforation].

Three male patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome revealed perforations of the intestine (jejunum-ileum; colon ascendens; coecum). The cause was necrosis due to cytomegalovirus infection. The characteristic findings were cytomegalic inclusion bodies in endothelial cells of the capillaries. These lesions caused alterations of the microcirculation. Therefore it seems reasonable to conclude that in these cases necrosis and perforation were due to ischemia. Cytomegalovirus infection must be taken into consideration in any patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and gastrointestinal ulcerations.