Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine the role of atopy in herpes simplex (HSV) eye disease. Method: A retrospective, population–based, cohort study was performed in 9 communities served by Kaiser Permanente health care in Northern California. All medical records of patients with diagnosis of HSV eye disease, from July 31, 1998 through June 30, 1999, were reviewed. Inclusion criteria was based on the documentation of HSV eye disease by clinical presentation, history and laboratory evaluation. Atopy was defined as an established diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (eczema), allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic conjunctivitis, in the medical record. All new onset cases were reviewed for recurrence rate through 2002. Result: In the 798,484 people studied, there were 71 new (incidence) cases and 54 previously diagnosed cases with recurrence of HSV eye disease. The overall incidence rate was 9.3/ 100,000 person–year. Of the incident patients, the mean follow–up time was 40 months (range 1 to 54). Thirteen of 71 (18.31%) incidence cases had recurrence of herpes. In incidence cases, there were 29 patients with atopy (40.85%). In the incident patients with recurrence, there were 4 patients with atopy (30.76%). There were 25 previously diagnosed cases, had atopy (46.30%). There was no significant difference of proportion of atopy or severe atopy between recurrence and non–recurrence new cases (2–sided Fishers exact, p=0.53 and 0.63 respectively). There was no difference of atopy ratio among new cases and active prevalence cases (2–sided Fishers exact, p=0.58). Conclusion: There was high prevalence of atopy in this cohort of patients with HSV eye disease. There was no significant difference of prevalence of atopy between new onset patients with recurrence versus and no recurrence nor between new cases and active prevalence cases. These data suggest that atopy may not influence the course of HSV eye disease. A case–control study is planned to further address the role of atopy in ocular herpes.
Keywords: herpes simplex virus • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • cornea: clinical science