[Morphological and pathogenetic problems of cytomegaly].

Cytomegalia was detected in 145 (17.6%) out of 823 fatal cases in children at autopsy. The analysis of the material suggests that the pattern of tissue reactions in this infection depends upon the immunologic responsiveness of the host entirely. In the process of maturation of the organs of immunity system, lymphohistiocytic infiltration of stroma becomes nodular, and cytomegalic metamorphosis of the cells is inhibited down to complete cessation. Histological, histochemical, and histoenzymatic methods were used to study in detail the structure of the nodular infiltrate which was found to belong to reactions of delayed type hypersensitivity. Original views concerning the mechanism of the development of cytomegalic sialoadenitis are presented.