Abstract
Purpose: :
To measure the genomic DNA of human herpes viruses (HHV) in the ocular fluids and to analyze the clinical relevance of HHV in clinically suspected herpetic eye diseases.
Methods: :
After informed consent was obtained, a total of 184 ocular fluid samples (aqueous humor and/or vitreous fluid samples) were collected from patients with clinically suspected herpetic eye diseases, i.e. unilateral involvement of keratouveitis, corneal endotheliitis, anterior uveitis with ocular hypertension and mutton-fat keratic precipitates, and necrotic retinitis. The samples were assayed for HHV-DNA (HHV-1~HHV-8) by using two different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays: qualitative multiplex PCR followed by quantitative real-time PCR. As the controls, intraocular fluid samples of non-infectious uveitis (e.g., sarcoidosis) and non-uveitic ocular disease (e.g., retinal detachment) were examined.
Results: :
Genomic DNA of HHV (HHV-1~HHV-8) were detected in 103 (56%) of 184 ocular fluid samples (155 aqueous humor and 29 vitreous fluid) with high copy numbers of HHV DNA (>103-108 levels). HHV-DNA was positive in keratouveitis in 71% (5/7 samples), corneal endotheliitis in 33% (7/21), anterior uveitis with ocular hypertension in 39% (37/96), and necrotic retinitis in 87% (54/62). On the other hand, HHV DNA was not detected in any samples (n=50) of patients with non-infectious uveitis or non-uveitic ocular diseases.
Conclusions: :
HHV-DNA is frequently detected in ocular fluids from patients clinically suspected herpetic eye diseases. Thus, examination of PCR using ocular fluids is useful to make a diagnosis in such cases.
Keywords: herpes simplex virus • inflammation • inflammation