Cytomegalovirus meningoencephalitis in a homosexual man with Kaposi's sarcoma: isolation of CMV from CSF cells.

A 36-year-old homosexual man developed a lymphocytic meningoencephalitis, lymphadenopathy, decreased helper/suppressor ratio in peripheral blood, and Kaposi's sarcoma. After repetitive evaluations for bacterial and fungal agents were negative, viral cultures were positive for cytomegalovirus. Virus was isolated only from CSF cells obtained from a large volume of fresh CSF. We present this case to document the association of CMV meningoencephalitis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and to emphasize that aggressive attempts to isolate CMV from CSF cells may be warranted in undiagnosed meningoencephalitis in patients at risk for AIDS.