OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and pathologic features of gastrointestinal cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease, and the histological detection of CMV.

METHODSForty-one gastrointestinal tissues were obtained from 35 patients suspected for gastrointestinal CMV disease. The pathologic changes of these specimens were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for CMV, and these were compared to serologic detection methods.

RESULTSCMV was detected in 23/41 tissues. There were 32 serologic CMV DNA tests at the time of biopsies or operations. Compared with histological detection, the sensitivity and specificity of serologic CMV DNA tests were 73.7% and 69.2% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSGastrointestinal histological detection of CMV has important clinical application. HE staining combined with immunohistochemistry and/or in situ hybridization detection is a reliable method to detect CMV.