[Cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus antibodies in patients with idiopathic ulcerative rectocolitis]

The total and fractioned titres of circulating anticytomegalovirus (CMV) and antiherpesvirus (HSV) antibodies were evaluated in 63 idiopathic ulcerative proctocolitis patients in follow-up. The population was disaggregated applying criteria related to the stage of the disease: duration, extension, number of observed relapses over the follow-up. It was noted that just the anti-HSV antibodies were correlated in a statistically significant way to the extension (p less than 0.025) and duration (p less than 0.025) of the disease. We believe that this behaviour is a manifestation of the disease and that the antiHSV titration may be included in a score of evaluation during the follow-up.