Abstract
Purpose: :
The HLA B27 phenotype is associated with increased susceptibility towards genital infections from Herpes Simplex Virus. Purpose of this investigation is to assess any such association for herpetic eye disease.
Methods: :
The HLA phenotypes of 129 recipients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for herpetic corneal scars were available for retrospective analysis. Four of them were postive for HLA B27 (group A). Mean follow up was 1.4 ± 1.2 years in group A and 2.5 ± 2.2 years in the HLA–B27 negatives (group B). We estimated herpetic recurrence and graft failure in both groups using Kaplan Meier method and applied Log–Rank statistics.
Results: :
After overall mean follow up of 2.2 years, 75% (three patients) in group A experienced graft failure or at least one (up to five in one individual) reversible recurrence of the herpetic eye disease. This percentage was as low as 25% in group B. The difference was highly statistically significant (p=0.006).
Conclusions: :
The HLA B27 phenotype seems to promote recurrence of herpetic eye disease following penetrating keratoplasty in this retrospective analysis. A prospective multicenter study on association of the HLA phenotype with herpetic eye disease is projected. So far, HLA B27 postive patients should be followed closely and considered for antiviral suppression therapy.
Keywords: herpes simplex virus • keratitis • genetics