Human cytomegalovirus. A review of developments between 1970 and 1976. I. Clinical developments.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), like other members of the herpesviruses, is widely distributed in human populations where the frequency of seropositive individuals is influenced by such factors as age, sex and socio-economic conditions. While this virus causes such diseases as mononucleosis, it is also implicated in autoimmune phenomena and plays an adverse role renal and bone marrow transplantation. Perhaps the most menacing aspect of CMV is the role which it play in congenital malformations resulting from in utero or neo-natal infection. Indeed, this virus is one of the few which can be transmitted vertically. The above mentioned clinical aspects of CMV are discussed here in light of recent clinically studies. The second part of this review will be devoted to the great mass of information recently acquired through experimentation.