Cell-mediated immune responses to cytomegalovirus in patients with dysplasia of the uterine cervix.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 172 women with various degrees of cervical dysplasia were assayed for responsiveness to cytomegalovirus-induced early and late antigens using lymphocyte stimulation tests. No evidence was found to suggest that any group of patients was specifically sensitized to either of the antigens tested. Neither was there any difference between the patient groups in respect of mitogen-induced stimulation. The concept that cytomegalovirus might be involved in cervical cell transformation leading to carcinoma has therefore not been strengthened as a result of this study.