Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2003 Jan;87(1):79-83.
doi: 10.1136/bjo.87.1.79.

Polymerase chain reaction analysis of aqueous humour samples in necrotising retinitis

T H C Tran  1 , F Rozenberg, N Cassoux, N A Rao, P LeHoang, B Bodaghi
Affiliations

Polymerase chain reaction analysis of aqueous humour samples in necrotising retinitis

T H C Tran et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2003 Jan.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic value of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on aqueous humour for the detection of viral DNA in patients with necrotising herpetic retinitis.

Methods: The clinical features and laboratory results of 22 patients (29 eyes) presenting with necrotising herpetic retinitis between March 1999 and June 2001 were reviewed retrospectively. Aqueous humour was obtained after anterior chamber paracentesis and PCR was performed in all cases.

Results: Viral DNA was detected in the aqueous humour of 19 patients (86.4%). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) seroconversion was evidenced in one additional patient. In the acute retinal necrosis (ARN) group (n = 19), varicella zoster virus (VZV) DNA was identified in six patients, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) DNA in two patients, herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) DNA in four patients, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) genome in four patients. In the progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) group (n = 3), VZV DNA was detected in all patients. No sample was positive for more than one virus.

Conclusions: PCR analysis of aqueous humour in patients with clinical features of necrotising viral retinitis can provide specific aetiological orientation and the method appears to be safe and highly sensitive.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(Top left) Fundus photograph of patient 15. Vasculitis, retinal necrosis, and haemorrhages due to CMV in a HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy), responder patient. (Top right) Peripheral retinal necrosis in patient 19. (Bottom left) Papillitis and diffuse arteritis due to HSV-1 in patient 1. (Bottom right) ARN syndrome with multiple necrotic satellite foci associated with haemorrhages.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Holland GN. Standard diagnostic criteria for the acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1994;117:663–7. - PubMed
    1. Forster DJ, Dugel PU, Frangieh GT, et al. Rapidly progressive outer retinal necrosis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1990;110:341–8. - PubMed
    1. Guex-Crosier Y, Rochat C, Herbort CP. Necrotizing herpetic retinopathies. A spectrum of herpes virus-induced diseases determined by the immune state of the host. Ocul Immunol Inflam 1997;5:259–65. - PubMed
    1. Doornenbal P, Seerp Baarsma G, Quint WG, et al. Diagnostic assays in cytomegalovirus retinitis: detection of herpesvirus by simultaneous application of the polymerase chain reaction and local antibody analysis on ocular fluid. Br J Ophthalmol 1996;80:235–40. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Fox GM, Crouse CA, Chuang EL, et al. Detection of herpesvirus DNA in vitreous and aqueous specimens by the polymerase chain reaction. Arch Ophthalmol 1991;109:266–71. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms