Presumptive Diagnosis of Recurrent Herpes-induced Anterior Uveitis with Acute Hypopyon

PURPOSE: We report an unusual case of presumptive diagnosis of herpes-induced anterior uveitis with acute hypopyon after trauma. CASE SUMMARY: A 82-year-old male was diagnosed with herpes keratitis due to dendritic keratitis in the left eye, and the lesion disappeared after antiviral treatment. However, 1 year later, the patient visited again with visual loss, pain, and tearing of the left eye after trauma. At the examination, best-corrected visual acuity was counting fingers and the intraocular pressure was 27 mmHg in the left eye. Slit-lamp examination revealed corneal epithelial erosion, moderate corneal edema, and prominent inflammation with 2 mm high hypopyon in the anterior chamber. We thought that bacterial endophthalmitis had rapidly progressed after trauma, so we performed bacterial cultures and an intravitreal antibiotics injection. Considering the clinical manifestations of lesions and herpes keratitis in the past, we could not exclude herpes virus infection. Cultures were negative and the symptoms improved, so the antiviral treatment was gradually reduced and stopped at 2 months. However, recurrence was observed on day 5 after stopping antiviral therapy. We therefore assumed that recurrent herpes virus caused anterior uveitis, and then, antiviral and steroid therapy was resumed. The patient subsequently showed improvement in his symptoms and recovered his visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: When acute hypopyon is observed in the anterior chamber after trauma, not only bacterial iritis and endophthalmitis but also viral-induced anterior uveitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Detection of herpes simplex-1 and -2 and varicella zoster virus by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in corneas from patients with bacterial keratitis / Detecção de vírus herpes simplex tipo 1 e 2 e varicella zoster por reação em cadeia de polimerase em tempo real em córneas de pacientes com ceratites bacterianas

ABSTRACT Objective: Bacterial keratitis occurs worldwide, and despite recent developments, it remains a potentially blinding condition. This study assesses the presence of herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and -2) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in corneal scrapings from patients with bacterial keratitis. Methods: A total of 65 patients with clinical diagnoses of infectious corneal ulcers prospectively underwent clinical eye examinations. Corneal scrapings were investigated by Gram staining, Giemsa staining, culture, and qPCR (the study group). Risk factors and epidemiological data were recorded. The control group comprising 25 eyes with typical herpes dendritic keratitis was also analyzed by qPCR. Results: From the study group (n=65), nine patients (13.8%) had negative smears, cultures, and qPCR findings. Fifty-six (86.2%) patients had positive cultures: 51 for bacteria, 4 for fungi, and 1 for amoebae. Of the patients who had positive bacterial cultures, qPCR identified 10 patients who were also positive for virus: one for VZV and nine for HSV-1. Of the 25 patients in the control group, 21 tested positive for HSV-1 by qPCR analysis. Conclusions: Herpes may be present in patients with bacterial corneal ulcers, and qPCR may be useful in its detection.

RESUMO Objetivo: Ceratites bacterianas ocorrem mundialmente e apesar dos novos desenvolvimentos permanece como uma condição que pode levar à cegueira. Avaliar a presença de herpes simples (-1 e -2) e vírus varicella zoster (VZV) por reação em cadeia quantitativa de polimerase em tempo real (qPCR) em raspados corneanos de pacientes com ceratite bacteriana. Métodos: Sessenta e cinco pacientes com ceratite infecciosa foram submetidos a raspados corneanos estudados para gram, Giemsa, cultura e qPCR (grupo de estudo). Foram avaliados fatores de risco e epidemiológicos. O grupo controle foi composto por 25 casos de úlcera dendrítica típica por herpes analisados por qPCR. Resultados: Do grupo de estudo (n=65), nove pacientes (13,8%) apresentaram cultura, qPCR e raspado negativos. Cinquenta e seis (86,2%) pacientes apresentaram cultura positiva, 51 para bacteria, 4 para fungo e 1 para ameba. A qPCR identificou 10 pacientes do grupo de cultura positiva para bactéria que também foram positivos para vírus, um VZV e 9 para HSV-1. Dos 25 pacientes que compunham o grupo controle, 21 apresentaram qPCR positivo para HSV-1. Conclusão: Herpes pode estar presente em pacientes com úlceras de córnea bacterianas e a qPCR pode ser útil na sua detecção.

Unusual dendritic keratitis.

Bilateral pseudo-dendritic keratitis in infancy can be due to tyrosinemia, a rare metabolic disorder. Ocular involvement may be the earliest presenting manifestation of this disease. Early diagnosis is essential because dietary modifications can result in complete reversal of the manifestations of this disorder. This disease must be suspected in all cases of non-responsive dendritic keratitis in the pediatric age group, especially if it is associated with cutaneous lesions such as patmoplantar keratosis. Serum tyrosine levels must be done in these cases.

Treatment of Herpes Simplex Ocular Disease with Ganciclovir Ophthalmic Gel

PURPOSE: We report the therapeutic effect of ganciclovir gel instead of acyclovir ointment usually used in the case of herpes simplex superficial ocular disease such as herpetic dendritic keratitis and erosive blepharitis. METHODS: Three patients clinically diagnosed with herpes simplex dendritic keratitis and one as erosive blepharitis were treated with the topical ophthalmic gel of 0.15% ganciclovir three times a day for 2 to 4 weeks. Ocular complications and recurrence were evaluated under slit-lamp examination for the follow-up periods. RESULTS: Dendritic keratitis and erosive blepharitis were completely recovered with no recurrence during the 5 months follow-up. There is no respective comparison here. In one case of herpes simplex keratitis, the keratitis wound was repaired after debridement of corneal epithelial layer and application of ganciclovir gel. Complications including burning sensation and superficial punctate keratitis did not develop and visual acuity improved. CONCLUSIONS: Ganciclovir ophthalmic gel should be considered one of the effective therapeutic drugs for the herpes simplex ocular disease.

Herpes simplex uveitis

BACKGROUND: Uveitis in herpes simplex virus (HSV) ocular disease is usually associated with corneal stromal disease. It has generally been believed that herpetic uveitis in the absence of corneal disease is very rare. When seen it is usually attributed to varicella zoster virus (VZV) infections. The diagnosis of uveitis caused by herpes simplex is often not diagnosed resulting in inadequate treatment and a poor visual result. METHODS: Seven patients from a large uveitis practice who presented with a clinical picture of: anterior uveitis and sectoral iris atrophy without keratitis, a syndrome highly suggestive of herpetic infection, are reported. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done in the aqueous of four of them and was positive for HSV. One patient had bilateral disease. Most of the patients also had severe secondary glaucoma. RESULTS: Of the seven patients presented five had no history of any previous corneal disease. Two had a history of previous dendritic keratitis which was not active at the time of uveitis development. One patient with bilateral disease was immunosuppressed at the time when the uveitis developed. Six of the seven patients had elevated intraocular pressures at the time of uveitis and five required glaucoma surgery. Intractable glaucoma developed in two patients leading to rapid and severe visual loss despite aggressive management. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that uveitis without corneal involvement may be a more frequent manifestation of ocular herpes simplex disease than previously thought. Absence of corneal involvement delays a correct diagnosis and may worsen visual outcome. Primary herpetic uveitis (when there is no history of previous corneal disease) seems to be more severe than the uveitis in patients with previous corneal recurrences. The associated glaucoma may be a devastating complication

Estudio clínico y virológico en un grupo de niños chilenos con herpes ocular: análisis genómico de las cepas / Clinical-virological study in chilean children with ocular herpes: genomic analysis of strains

Objetivo: Caracterizar el diagnóstico de infección ocular por virus herpes simples (HSV) en un grupo de niños chilenos, mediante el estudio clínico y de laboratorio virológico. Métodos: La población estudiada comprendió niños menores de 15 años, con diagnóstico clínico de herpes ocular, que fueron atendidos por los autores y un grupo de oftalmólogos entrenados especialmente para el estudio. Junto con detallar el tipo de infección herpética, a todos los pacientes se les tomaron muestra para estudio virológico que incluyó estudio de cultivos celulares y posteriormente técnica de reacción en cadena de polimerasa (PCR), con el fin de tipificar las cepas y características genómicas del virus infectante. Resultados: El estudio enroló 18 niños, cuyas edades fluctuaron entre los 40 días y 13 años, con una media de 6 años. De las formas clínicas observadas, la más frecuentes fueron la blefaritis y la queratitis dendrítica constituyendo en 27 y 22 por ciento de los casos, respectivamente. El diagnóstico de HSV fue confirmado en 15 de 18 pacientes, constituyendo un 83 por ciento de positividad. 14 de 15 casos correspondieron a HSV tipo 1, y en un niño se diagnóstico infección por HSV tipo 2. Los antecedentes clínicos de este caso confirmaron que se trataba de una infección perinatal, lo que permitió instaurar el tratamiento en forma oportuna. El estudio permitió identificar un caso de excreción ocular viral asintomática, lo que sumando a un cuadro de recurrencias múltiples obligó a indicar terapia profiláctica permanente con aciclovir. Conclusiones: La blefaritis y queratitis herpética constituyeron en conjunto el 70 por ciento de los casos. El rendimiento celular y PCR fue elevado en los casos con alto índice de replicación viral, como la queratitis y blefaritis. En los casos con menor replicación, como queratitis estromal o conjuntivitis, el estudio PCR demostró una mayor sensibilidad que el estudio en cultivo celular. La presencia de un caso de infección perinatal por HSV-2 pudiera ser indicativo de un aumento en la frecuencia de esta forma de presentación.

Efficacy of Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody Test in Herpes Simplex Keratitis

Herpes simplex virus keratits(HSK) is one of the most common external eye diseases that cause corneal blindness, Therefore early diagnosis and proper treatment of HSK are essential. However it is frequently misdiagnosed because it shows non-specific corneal lesion than other infectious corneal disease. And also diagnosis of HSK mostly rely on clinical examination and patient history. We evaluated suspicious HSK patients by indirect immunofluofluorescent(IF) antibody test and analyzed its efficacy in the early diagnosis of HSK. Among 47 patients(47 eyes), 37 patients were suspicious heretic keratitis and others not. Dendritic keratitis patients existed in 17 out of 37 patients and they were evaluated with virus culture and indirect IF test. The result of indirect IF test was confirmed under the immunofluorescent microscope and for virus culture the specimens were inoculated on Vero cells(monkey kidney cells). The positive results of indirect IF test was 28 out of 37 suspicious HSK patients and 1 out of 10 non-suspicious HSK patients. Dendritic HSK patients showed IF positive in 15 out of 17 patients(82.3%). Sensitivity of indirect IF test in suspicious HSK patients was 75.7%(2837) and 88.2%(15/17) in dendritic HSK patients. Indirect IF test was all positive(14/14) in dendritic HSK patients that showed culture positive. From these results, indirect IF test has a high sensitivity in early diagnosis of HSK and might be ussful as a rapid diagnostic tool in HSK patients.

Efficacy of Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody Test in Herpes Simplex Keratitis

Herpes simplex virus keratits(HSK) is one of the most common external eye diseases that cause corneal blindness, Therefore early diagnosis and proper treatment of HSK are essential. However it is frequently misdiagnosed because it shows non-specific corneal lesion than other infectious corneal disease. And also diagnosis of HSK mostly rely on clinical examination and patient history. We evaluated suspicious HSK patients by indirect immunofluofluorescent(IF) antibody test and analyzed its efficacy in the early diagnosis of HSK. Among 47 patients(47 eyes), 37 patients were suspicious heretic keratitis and others not. Dendritic keratitis patients existed in 17 out of 37 patients and they were evaluated with virus culture and indirect IF test. The result of indirect IF test was confirmed under the immunofluorescent microscope and for virus culture the specimens were inoculated on Vero cells(monkey kidney cells). The positive results of indirect IF test was 28 out of 37 suspicious HSK patients and 1 out of 10 non-suspicious HSK patients. Dendritic HSK patients showed IF positive in 15 out of 17 patients(82.3%). Sensitivity of indirect IF test in suspicious HSK patients was 75.7%(2837) and 88.2%(15/17) in dendritic HSK patients. Indirect IF test was all positive(14/14) in dendritic HSK patients that showed culture positive. From these results, indirect IF test has a high sensitivity in early diagnosis of HSK and might be ussful as a rapid diagnostic tool in HSK patients.

Estudio clínico virológico en un grupo de niños chilenos con herpes ocular: análisis genómico de las cepas / Clinic-virological study in chilean children with ocular herpes: genomic analysis of strains

Se estudiaron todos los niños menores de 15 años, con diagnóstico clínico de herpes ocular, efectuado por oftalmólogos de servicios oftalmológicos de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Chile y de un centro oftalmológico privado, desde abril de 1995 a abril de 1996, en Santiago de Chile. Se consignó información clínico epidemiológica, examen clínico y se obtuvieron mediante torulado muestras de conjuntiva y/o córnea del ojo afectado, conjuntiva del ojo sano y mucosa oral, utilizando una técnica estándar. Se efectuó aislamiento viral en células VERO (ATCCL81). En caso de detectarse efecto citopático, el aislado viral se propagó y almacenó para su estudio. Se efectuó identificación y tipificación viral con anticuerpos tipo específicos marcados con fluoresceína (DAKO). Se efectuó amplificación génica y análisis con enzimas de restricción. Resultados: se determinó que 14/15 aislados correspondían a herpes simplex tipo I (HSV-I) y uno a HSV-2, el cual muy probablemente correspondió a una infección perinatal por este virus. Las cepas de HSV-I presentaron patrones genómicos distintos entre sí y con la cepa de referencia norteamericana HSV-IF. La forma de presentación más frecuente fue de blefaritis herpética, seguida por la dendrita corneal, tanto en el primer espisodio clínico como en las recurrencias y en estas últimas, tiende a presentarse la misma forma clínica. La tasa de recurrencia es mayor que en la población adulta. La infección fue unilateral con la excepción de un caso con distintas formas de presentación en cada ojo y aislamiento simultáneo bilateral. En dos casos fue posible detectar excreción oral del virus subclínica

Correlation between antibody titers and clinical disease in ocular herpes simplex virus infection

O trabalho comparou os títulos de anticorpo (IgG) segundo a gravidade da doença clínica na infecçäo ocular pelo vírus do herpes. O teste ELISA substituiu outros métodos tradicionais de detecçäo e quantificaçäo de anticorpos em doenças causadas por vírus. O teste ELISA requer um mínino de preparaçäo de reagente e os resultados säo disponíveis dentro de 5 horas. Näo houve nenhuma correlaçäo entre o nível do título e o quadro clínico. Um teste anti-HSV positivo pode ser útil, mas näo é indicador da presença do vírus na superfície ocular porque 73p/cento dos indivíduos foram positivos no título (1:710)

Herpes ocular / Herpes ocular

A maioria dos seres humanos apresenta uma primo infecçäo por herpes antes dos 5 anos de idade em geral na regiäo da boca. Os vírus caminham pelos axônios até os gânglios onde permanecem em estado de latência. Sua ativaçäo pode ocorrer a qualquer tempo sob determinadas circunstâncias clínicas e o vírus replicar a lesäo periférica nas células da regiäo dos lábios ou do olho. Os estudos realizados em animais de laboratório, in vivo e in vitro demonstram que a presença de um fator LAT (Ativador de Latência) presente em vírus e ausente em mutantes pode ter um papel na latência e na reativaçäo. Estes estudos também mostram que 24 horas após a infeccäo periférica original os vírus entram no tecido nervoso e näo podem ser atingidos por drogas anti-virais que só atuam nas formas ativadas e näo nas formas latentes

Herpes simplex virus genes controlling reactivation from latency in rabbit eye model.

Using the rabbit eye model of latency, herpes simplex virus type 1 strain McKrae invariably reactivated after epinephrine iontophoresis, whereas type 2(HSV-2) virus strain HG 52 failed to reactivate. Both strains established a latent infection with the same frequency. To identify the viral genes involved in this reactivation difference, intertypic recombinants were selected following cotransfection of intact McKrae DNA and Xba I or Hpa I cleaved HG52 DNA. Eleven separately obtained recombinants containing HG52 inserts between 0.35-0.56 and/or 0.82-1.0 map units (mu) were isolated but as four that were tested reactivated with the same frequency as the parental Mckrae virus, it was established that the genes encoded between these map coordinates do not determine the reactivation difference.

Estudio cooperativo: epidemiología departamento de córnea Hospital del Salvador (ECEDEC) / Cooperative study: epidemiology of the cornea department of Hospital del Salvador (ECEDEC)

Mil cuatrocientas treinta y siete atenciones del Departamento de Córnea del Hospital del Salvador originadas por 640 pacientes en un lapso de 12 meses, fueron analizadas en un trabajo prospectivo. La edad promedio fue de 43,3 años y un 56,9% fueron mujeres. La patología más frecuente fue el herpes simple con un 19,6% de las atenciones. Las patologías que tienen solución quirúrgica consultaron con mayor frecuencia, y fue así como el control de los pacientes con queratoplastías determinó casi 1/3 de todas las atenciones. El 91,5% de las consultas de pacientes citados correspondieron a pacientes antiguos, a pesar de lo cual hubo mucha patología aguda. El sexo femenino consultó mayoritariamente, con especial relevancia en catarata, queratopatía bulosa, rosácea e hipolacrimia y el masculino lo hizo principalmente en patología traumática. La edad jugó un rol relativo en los diferentes cuadros, ajustándose sus promedios a lo esperado. Las distrofias corneales, especialmente las endoteliales, ocuparon el 4- lugar en frecuencia y el 2- en las atenciones por queratoplastías

Herpes simplex ocular / Herpes simplex ocular

Em muitos países a ceratite hepética é a segunda causa de perda visual unilateral, precedida apenas pelos traumatismos. Apesar dos avanços no conhecimento da patogênese do herpes sismples ocular alguns aspectos da enfermidade näo estäo completamente esclarecidos. O propósito deste trabalho é resumir conhecimentos atuais sobre epidemiologia, patogênese, manifestaçöes clínicas, achados laboratoriais, e tratamento do herpse simples ocular

Evaluación de anticuerpos específicos antivirus herpes simple en pacientes con queratoconjuntivitis dendrica viral / Evaluation of herpes simplex virus specific antibodies in patients with dendritic keratoconjunctivitis

Sueros e anticuerpos específicos para herpes simple virus (HSV) de las clases IgG e IgM fueron administrados entre 52 pacientes con queatitis hepética y 66 pacientes de la casa, clínicamente libres de infecciones herpéticas. Nuestros resultados que la demostración de anticuerpos IgG anti-HSV es de poco valor declarativo para la existencia o ausencia de la enfermedad y que la demostración de IgM anti-HSV anticuerpos no está asociada con la actividad de la enfermedad. Además, la titulación siguiente de anticuerpos específicos HSV en el paciente, no demostró ninguna correlación con la evolución clínica de la enfermedad

Evaluación de la respuesta inmune humoral específica en pacientes con infección conjuntival por virus herpes simple (VHS) / Specific inmune response evaluation in patients with herpetic conjuntivitis

Los anticuerpos séricos específicos de los virus simple (VHS) tanto de la clase IgG como IgM fueron cuantificados en un total de 52 pacientes con el diagnóstico de conjuntivitis herpética y en 66 individuos relacionados con los pacientes y clínicamente sanos. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran el pobre valor predictivo de los anticuerpos IgG anti VHS para predecir la presencia de la enfermedad, así como que la presencia de anticuerpos IgM anti VHS no está asociada a la actividad del padecimiento. Más aún, la titulación subsecuente de anticuerpos específicos anti-VHS en los pacientes no mostró correlación con la evolución clínica de l enfermedad