Histologic evidence of cytomegalovirus in the duodenal and gastric mucosa of patients with renal allograft.

Endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract was performed in 12 patients after renal transplantation and immunosuppressive therapy. Histological examination of the specimens obtained from the duodenal bulb revealed the presence of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-type cells in four cases. In one of these patients several CMV-type cells were scattered in the duodenal mucosa and also affected the antral mucosa. In the other three cases just one or two cells with prominent intranuclear inclusions (CMV) were present in only a few of the multiple sections. No correlation of CMV inclusion with symptoms and with the morphological appearance of the upper gastrointestinal tract has been found. CMV infection seems to be correlated with immunosuppressive therapy.