Cytomegalovirus infection of the uterine cervix: Local cervical infection and antibody response

Thirty-three women were examined on three or more occasions, each at 2-month intervals. The overall recovery rate of cytomegalovirus (CMV) was 28% ($\text{60}\text{215}$). CMV was recovered from 53% of the cases where the local antibody was 1 : 64 or greater but the greatest difference occurred below titers of 1 : 32. Below that level virus was recovered in less than 5%, compared to a prevalence of 35% for cases with a titer of 1 : 32 (P < 0.001). Twenty-eight cases in whom CMV was sought underwent colposcopic examination and had cytologic smears examined by the papanicolaou method. The external uterine cervix with columnar cells only yield a CMV prevalence of $\text{3}\text{17}$ (18%). However, if colposcopy showed either atypical transformation or metaplasia the prevalence was $\text{4}\text{11}$ (36%). Similarly, it is provocative that the prevalence of CMV appears to increase with abnormal cytologic findings to 33% recovery in severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ.