Liver findings in infantile cytomegalovirus infection: similarity to extrahepatic biliary obstruction.

The histological findings in the liver in four fatal cases of infantile cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection are presented, three occurred in premature infants, and all died at the ages of 2-4 months. Most previously reported cases showed various degrees of hepatitis with giant cell transformation. In three of our four cases, however, the main feature was cholestasis, portal fibrosis and bile duct proliferation, not unlike the findings seen in extrahepatic biliary obstruction. In one case, massive hepatic necrosis was found, a finding not previously reported in this disease. The diversity of liver findings in infantile CMV infection is stressed.