Abstract
Purpose::
1). Detection and comparison of HSV DNA frequency in corneal specimens obtained from patients with the history of herpetic keratitis, keratitis caused by other factors than HSV and in corneas with noninflammatory disorders.2). Analysis of factors likely to be associated with the frequency of HSV DNA presence in corneas: age, gender, place of living, systemic diseases, eye disorders other than keratitis, and number of recurrences.
Methods::
The history of 47 patients with active keratitis or postinflammatory and dystrophic corneal disorders were analyzed. The patients were treated at the 1st Dept. of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Lublin, from September 2003 to December 2005. 33 full thickness corneal buttons, obtained from 31 patients after PKP, and corneal scrapings obtained from16 patients with active keratitis were examined. On the basis of the history and clinical appearance corneal buttons were divided into 3 groups and scrapings into 2 groups.HSV DNA was detected using PCR method.
Results::
In the I group of 14 corneal buttons with the history of herpetic keratitis, HSV DNA was detected in 78,6%. In the II group of 11 corneal buttons with another form of keratitis, HSV DNA was detected in one case. HSV DNA was not detected in corneal buttons with noninflammatory opacities present.In corneal scrapings obtained from areas with clinical features of HSV infection (group I), DNA HSV was detected in 8 out of 11 samples (72,7%). In the II group - scrapings obtained from patients with keratitis of other than HSV infection, HSV DNA was not detected.The investigation found no statistical correlation between the presence of HSV DNA in cornea and: age, gender, place of living, other concomitant eye diseases, and systemic disorders.No correlation was found between postkeratoplasty inflammatory manifestations and HSV DNA presence in corneal buttons.
Conclusions::
1). Statistically increased frequency of HSV DNA was detected in corneas with history or with clinical manifestations of herpetic keratitis.2). No statistical correlation were found between HSV DNA presence in the corneal buttons and age, gender, place of living, eye disorders other than keratitis, or systemic diseases.3). No correlation was found between postkeratoplasty inflammatory manifestations and HSV DNA presence in corneal buttons.4). PCR seems to be a very good method of HSV DNA detection in corneal specimens.
Keywords: herpes simplex virus • keratitis