Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine whether rubella virus is involved in the pathogenesis of Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis (FHI).
Methods: :
Fourteen patients (14 eyes) diagnosed with FHI based on characteristic ocular manifestations and 8 control subjects were studied. Aqueous humor (AH) samples from 10 FHI patients and one vitreous sample from a FHI patient 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 by culture in RK-13 cells were conducted in 9 FHI patients. In addition to laboratory examinations, medical history of rubella virus vaccination was also obtained.
Results: :
10 patients with FHI examined showed intraocular synthesis of rubella virus antibodies (GWC > 3). A high index of rubella virus antibody production was also found in the vitreous sample (GWC = 30.6). GWC in all control subjects were below detectable level. The rubella genome was detected in 2 of 9 patients and rubella virus was isolated from 1 of 9 patients with FHI. None of the patients with FHI had been vaccinated against rubella.
Conclusions: :
As previously reported, our laboratory data strongly suggest a relationship between FHI and rubella virus. Vaccination against rubella virus may be effective to prevent the development of FHI.
Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • clinical laboratory testing