CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION FROM THE SALIVA

In our study patients with CMV retinitis had intra oral non specific ulcers and xerostomia. A significant CMV viral load was detected for these patients. Based on this finding we state that CMV could be considered as an etiology of oral ulcer which presents as non specific clinically. We hypothesize that these non specific ulcers not responding to regular treatment in immunocompromised patients could be a potential forerunner of CMV retinitis which has fatal complications. We also conclude that saliva could be recommended diagnostic tool for quantifying CMV viral load especially in those patients who present with xerostomia.