Abstract
Purpose:
Pterygium is a fibrovascular lesion originating from the conjunctiva that often extends on the corneal surface, this is a treath for the vision. The risk factors involves UV light exposure and viral infections. Many studies have been conducted to investigate the involvement of a variety of oncogenic viruses, including HPV, CMV, HSV or EBV, in the development of pterygium. In this study we determine the presence of oncogenic viruses in pterygium and phenotypically normal conjunctiva and the possible relation between viral presence and this clinical entity
Methods:
Twenty-five pterygia samples were obtained by surgery and fifty scraping healthy conjunctival were analyzed like control. HSV1, VZV, CMV, EBV and HPV detection were accomplished by polymerase chain reaction amplification of viral sequences followed by electrophoresis in agarose gel.
Results:
EBV was detected in 7 (28%), HPV in 2 (8%), HSV (type 1) 1 (4%), VZV 0 (0%), and CMV 0 (0%) in pterygia samples. The healthy conjunctival specimen were negatives for HSV1, VZV, CMV and EBV, whereas, HPV was detected in two controls (4%)
Conclusions:
Pterygium is associated with not only viral infections but also to exposure to UV rays and genetic predisposition. The detection of potentially oncogenic viruses, such as EBV, HPV and HSV-1, supports the concept that the pterygium can be considered a multifactorial neoplastic condition. Detection of EBV, HPV and HSV1 between patients and control subjects implies a possible viral participation to develop pterygium.