“…patients show neuropathological evidence of HCMV infection of the CNS which is characterized mainly by microglial nodules, inclusion-bearing neurons and glial cells, and necrotizing lesions. Viral antigen can be detected in several cell types such as neurons, glial cells, and endothelial cells [Morgello et al, 1987;Snider et al, 1983;Vinters et al, 1989;Wiley and Nelson, 19881. HCMV-associated neurological manifestations of AIDS patients include meningoencephalitis, diffuse multifocal encephalitis, ventriculoencephalitis, radiculomyelopathy, and peripheral neuropathy [Behar et al, 1987, Belec et al, 1990Drew, 1992;Edwards et al, 1985;Fuller et al, 1989;Masdeu et al, 1988;Kalavjan et al, 1993;Said et al, 1991;Wiley and Nelson, 19881. Early and reliable laboratory diagnosis of HCMV infections of the CNS is of considerable clinical importance, since replication of HCMV in the CNS can be arrested by appropriate antiviral treatment [Novak et al, 19891. To date, the most promising results have been obtained when using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect HCMV DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), although some AIDS patients may yield positive PCR results in the absence of neurological symptoms [Cinque et al, 1992;Clifford et al, 1993;Gozlan et al, 1992;Wolf and Spector, 19921.…”