Detection of herpesvirus DNA in vitreous and aqueous specimens by the polymerase chain reaction
G. M. Fox, C. A. Crouse, E. L. Chuang, S. C. Pflugfelder, T. J. Cleary, S. J. Nelson and S. S. Atherton
Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL 33136.
Members of the herpesvirus family, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr
virus (EBV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV), have been recognized as causal
agents of chorioretinal inflammatory diseases. We investigated the use of
the polymerase chain reaction for the detection of CMV, HSV, and EBV
genomes in aqueous, subretinal fluid, and vitreous specimens in patients
with clinically diagnosed CMV retinitis. Cytomegalovirus but not HSV or EBV
genomic sequences were detected in all of these clinical specimens. We also
investigated 18 normal aqueous and eight normal vitreous specimens obtained
from patients undergoing cataract or vitrectomy surgery. Cytomegalovirus,
HSV, and EBV DNA were not detected in any of the normal aqueous specimens.
There was one weakly positive CMV normal vitreous, but none was HSV or EBV
positive by the polymerase chain reaction. These results indicate that the
polymerase chain reaction may be useful as a rapid and sensitive diagnostic
technique to aid in the confirmation of clinical observations.
