[Cytomegalovirus in ulcerative colitis in "Hospital Nacional 2 de Mayo"]

The association between cytomegalovirus and ulcerative colitis has been reported by many authors, but the exact pathogenesis of this relationship remains unclear. We reviewed all ulcerative colitis cases whose diagnosis were made in Hospital dos de Mayo, during period 2000-2005, these cases were evaluated for Cytomegalovirus using inmunohistochemistry, also we described histological features of our cases. CMV was identified in 22.2% of all cases, none of them had been treated with inmunosuppressants previously, histological activity was reported in all positive cases and 42.8% negative cases for CMV; Crypt architectural abnormality was the most often histological finding, and the frequency of ulcerative colitis was 1.5 per year. Our findings are similar to those reported by foreign authors and is consistent with theory which maintains inflammatory changes of UC would help CMV's activation without using inmunosuppressants.