Cytomegalovirus-Induced Cytopathic Changes in Skin Biopsy Specimens: Clinicopathologic Study in Patients With the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and an Active Extracutaneous Cytomegalovirus Infection

To the Editor.—  Cutaneous manifestations of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection are rare. On the basis of characteristic CMV-induced cytopathic changes observed in skin biopsy specimens, a wide range of cutaneous lesions have been incriminated as specific manifestations of CMV infection.¹To evaluate the incidence of CMV-induced histopathologic changes and to determine the clinical characteristics of lesions presenting cytomegalic cells, skin biopsy specimens taken from a group of 10 patients (nine men and one woman) with anti-human immunodeficiency virus antibodies (determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot) and an active CMV extracutaneous infection were studied. The age of the patients ranged from 25 to 59 years (mean, 38 years). All patients were classified as being in group IV of the Centers for Disease Control's (Atlanta, Ga) classification for patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The CMV infection was demonstrated on the basis of the clinical criteria (CMV chorioretinitis in