Further evidence of the absence of measles virus genome sequence in full thickness intestinal specimens from patients with Crohn's disease

Specimens of macroscopically inflamed and normal intestine along with mesenteric lymph nodes were obtained at resection from patients with Crohn's disease. The samples were systematically examined by RT-PCR-nested PCR targeting N, M and H gene regions of the measles virus genome. None of the samples examined gave any evidence of the persistence of measles virus in the intestine of Crohn's disease patients. The study supports previous findings produced by this laboratory and others using highly sensitive measles virus specific PCR diagnostic technology. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.