Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine whether rubella virus is involved in the pathogenesis of Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI).
Methods: :
Eight patients (8 eyes) with FHI based on characteristic ocular manifestations and 8 control subjects were studied. Aqueous humor (AH) samples from all patients and one vitreous sample from FHI patients were analyzed for intraocular antibody production against rubella virus by calculation of the Goldmann-Witmer coefficient (GWC). Viral detection by nested polymerase chain reaction and isolation was examined in 3 FHI patients. In addition to laboratory examinations, medical history of rubella virus vaccination was also questioned.
Results: :
All patients with FHI had an intraocular synthesis of rubella virus antibodies (GWC > 6). Antibody production from vitreous sample in patients with FHI also revealed high index (GWC = 30.6). GWC value from all control subjects revealed under calculation. The rubella genome was detected in 2 of 3 patients and virus was isolated from 1 of 3 patients with FHI. There were no patients with FHI who had been vaccinated against rubella.
Conclusions: :
A relationship between FHI and rubella virus was strongly suggested by laboratory data. Vaccination against rubella virus may be effective to prevent from the development of FHI.
Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • pathology: human • bacterial disease