Diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infections of the nervous system by immunocytochemical demonstration of infected cells in cerebrospinal fluid.

OBJECTIVES

Infections caused by the cytomegalovirus (CMV) are frequent complications in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Diagnosis of CMV infections of the nervous system is still difficult.

METHODS

We evaluated immunocytochemical staining for a CMV early antigen in cells prepared from the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with clinical evidence for neural CMV infections and from controls.

RESULTS

CMV positive cells were found in four samples of patients with clinical evidence of CMV infection. Three of these patients were suffering from myeloradicalitis, one had a severe brain stem encephalitis. No CMV positive were found in controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunocytochemical staining of CSF cells may be helpful in the diagnosis of CMV infection of the central nervous system and of the nerve roots.