Identification of New Pathogens in the Intraocular Fluid of Patients With Uveitis

Am J Ophthalmol. 2010 Aug 4. [Epub ahead of print]

Identification of New Pathogens in the Intraocular Fluid of Patients With Uveitis

de Groot-Mijnes JD, de Visser L, Zuurveen S, Martinus RA, Völker R, Ten Dam-Van Loon NH, de Boer JH, Postma G, de Groot RJ, Van Loon AM, Rothova A.

Department of Virology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine infectious causes in patients with uveitis of unknown origin by intraocular fluids analysis. DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: Ocular fluids from 139 patients suspected of infectious uveitis, but negative for herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, and Toxoplasma gondii by polymerase chain reaction and/or antibody analysis in intraocular fluids, were assessed for the presence of 18 viruses and 3 bacteria by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The ocular fluids from 48 patients with uveitis of known etiology or with cataract were included as controls. RESULTS: Positive PCR results were found for Epstein-Barr virus, for rubella virus, and for human herpesvirus 6 each in 1 patient and for human parechovirus in 4 patients. Of the human parechovirus-positive patients, 1 was immunocompromised and had panuveitis. The other 3 patients were immunocompetent and had anterior uveitis, all with corneal involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Human parechovirus might be associated with infectious (kerato)uveitis. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PMID: 20691420 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]