Immuno-histochemical expression of cytomegalovirus protein (pp65) in childhood hepatitis

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a known cause of both neonatal and childhood hepatitis, but its exact role is yet to be identified. Objective: To ascertain the role played by CMV in children with chronic hepatitis who are non-hepatitis B and C. Method: This is a retrospective study carried out on 30 liver tissue paraffin blocks of children who are non-hepatitis B and C. Diagnosis was based on presence of CMV protein (pp65) immunohistochemically. This was correlated with available serological results for CMV, severity of liver histopathological changes, and revision of clinical manifestations of the patients. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the College of Medicine- Al-Nahrain University. Results: Immunohistochemistry for pp65 was negative in 10 (33.3%) cases, low positive in 4 (13.3%) cases, moderately positive in 3 (10%) cases and highly positive in 13 (43.3%) cases. Mild inflammation and severe fibrosis showed the greatest positivity for CMVpp65. Conclusions: CMV is an important cause of chronic hepatitis in children in Iraq.