1/4. Varicella-zoster viral antigen identified in iridocyclitis patient.BACKGROUND: The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antigen has not been identified immunohistologically in iridocyclitis due to VZV. CASE: A 65-year-old woman diagnosed with iridocyclitis and secondary glaucoma underwent trabeculectomy. Samples of aqueous humor and juxtacanalicular and iris tissue were obtained for immunohistological and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) study. OBSERVATIONS: Slit-lamp microscopy revealed ciliary injection, corneal epithelial edema, mutton fat precipitates, flare, cells, and progressive iris atrophy in the right eye. Subsequently, scant eruptions on her right upper eyelid appeared and disappeared within a week. Although a diagnostic increase in the complement fixation antibody titer to VZV was not observed, we started medical treatment for VZV, on suspicion of iridocyclitis due to VZV. Despite medical treatment, the ratio of peripheral anterior synechia was greater than 60% and iris atrophy progressed in parallel. The intraocular pressure in the right eye remained above 30 mm Hg at 6 months after the first visit, so trabeculectomy was performed. VZV-specific dna was detected in the aqueous humor by the PCR study. Immunohistological examination demonstrated numerous VZV antigen-positive cells in the iris stroma, in particular, vascular endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report of the detection of VZV antigen in the iris of an iridocyclitis patient.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/4. Delayed contralateral hemiplegia following herpes zoster ophthalmicus: should antiviral therapy be used?We review clinical virological studies in the syndrome of delayed contralateral hemiplegia following herpes zoster ophthalmicus. Virus could not be isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the present case, nor was antiviral antibody found in the CSF. There appear to have been no reports of successful virus isolation from the CSF although there are reports of antibody in the spinal fluid. Thus the evidence for ongoing viral replication in the central nervous system is marginal. It is suggested that the sensitive antibody assay against membrane antigens (FAMA) be used in the future as a guide to antiviral therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.14285714285714keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/4. Detection of varicella zoster virus dna and viral antigen in human eyes after herpes zoster ophthalmicus.OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to identify varicella zoster virus (VZV) dna and viral antigen in human eyes at various intervals after clinical onset of herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). DESIGN: A retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: There were 9 eyes and 4 corneal buttons surgically obtained from 13 patients with HZO at the University eye Hospital of Erlangen-Nurnberg between 1984 and 1994. Specimens were examined at different timepoints after clinical onset of HZO (range, 1 day-19 years; median, 36 months). methods: Histopathologic evaluation was performed on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue by routine histology, immunohistochemistry (5-B-7 murine monoclonal antibody to VZV; peroxidase-antiperoxidase method), and dna-in situ hybridization (35S deoxyadenosine triphosphate-labeled HindIII fragments [A and C] of VZV). RESULTS: Typical histopathologic changes associated with HZO were identified: vascularization of the corneal stroma (11 of 13), granulomatous reaction to Descemet's membrane (8 of 13), fusiform-shaped ciliary scarring (5 of 9), optic neuritis (4 of 9), and perineuritis (8 of 9) and perivasculitis (8 of 9) of the long posterior ciliary nerves and arteries. VZV antigen was detected in two patients with acute infection 1 and 7 days after onset of HZO, respectively. VZV-dna was identified in seven patients up to 10 years after onset of HZO in corneal epithelial cells (2 of 13), corneal stroma (5 of 13), inflammatory infiltrate of the anterior chamber (1 of 9), episclera (2 of 9), posterior ciliary nerves (1 of 9) and arteries (5 of 9), optic nerve (5 of 9), and adjacent leptomeninges (2 of 9). CONCLUSION: Persistence of viral genomes, most likely accompanied by gene expression or slow viral replication, appears to be responsible for the often smoldering panophthalmitis and the chronic recurrent keratouveitis in patients with HZO. Localization of viral dna in vascular structures suggests a role for vasculitis in the pathogenesis of some ocular findings associated with HZO.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.85714285714286keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/4. Recurrent nodular scleritis associated with varicella zoster virus.PURPOSE: To describe a case of recurrent nodular scleritis that was apparently caused by reactivation of a varicella zoster virus infection. methods: Case report. immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction were used to detect viral antigen and dna in the biopsy specimen of inflamed sclera of a patient with a history of recurrent nodular scleritis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.14285714285714keywords = antigen (Clic here for more details about this article) |