Human cytomegalovirus nucleic acids in tissues from congenitally infected infants.

In situ nucleic acid hybridization methods were used to study autopsy tissues from 2 infants with clinical or pathologic evidence of congenital cytomegalovirus infections: a premature infant with multiple congenital malformations and inclusion bodies in several organs and an infant with culture-proved symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection. Cytomegalovirus nucleic acids were detected in lung, kidney, adrenal, thyroid, skin, pancreas, and anterior pituitary tissues. In the second infant, hybridization studies of neural tissues failed to reveal cytomegalovirus nucleic acids despite neuropathologic abnormalities consisting of extensive necrotizing ependymitis and periventricular cavitation.