FURTHER ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC EVIDENCE OF VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES IN CROHNS-DISEASE

Abstract

EM investigation of patients with Crohn''s disease of the colon revealed virus-like particles mainly in epithelial cells and macrophages near ulcerative lesions. The particles had a double membrane, a sometimes electron-opaque central core, were round to oval in shape and 30-70 nm in diameter. They commonly were located in clusters and singly in the cell cytoplasm, but not intranuclearly. These findings agree with recent culture studies in Crohn''s disease.