Epithelial cytoplasmic inclusion bodies of possible viral origin in clinically early ulcerative colitis

Conclusions A small series of 12 cases of ulcerative colitis in a clinically early acute stage was studied for the presence of desoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. Inclusions were present in approximately 57 per cent of the cases. This percentage is almost identical with that found in a previous study of unselected but predominantly longstanding cases. The possibility of these inclusions being of viral origin and etiologic significance in ulcerative colitis and cancer of the colon and rectum is discussed.