Polymerase chain reaction analysis of aqueous humour samples in necrotising retinitis
Department of Ophthalmology, Pitié-Salpêtriére Hospital, Paris, France., http://www.100md.com
2 Department of Virology, Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital, Paris, France., http://www.100md.com
3 Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA., http://www.100md.com
Accepted for publication 16 July 2002., http://www.100md.com
ABSTRACT., http://www.100md.com
Top., http://www.100md.com
ABSTRACT., http://www.100md.com
PATIENTS AND METHODS., http://www.100md.com
RESULTS., http://www.100md.com
DISCUSSION., http://www.100md.com
REFERENCES., http://www.100md.com
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.., http://www.100md.com
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.dp44/y5, 百拇医药
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.dp44/y5, 百拇医药
Keywords: retinal necrosis; herpesviruses; paracentesis; polymerase chain reactiondp44/y5, 百拇医药
A cute retinal necrosis syndrome is characterised by peripheral necrotising retinitis, retinal arteritis, and a prominent inflammatory reaction in the vitreous and anterior chamber of apparently immunocompetent patients.1 Progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) syndrome has been described as a similar syndrome with minimal inflammation in immunocompromised patients.2 The term necrotising herpetic retinitis refers to a spectrum of diseases induced by herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)) that encompasses both acute retinal necrosis (ARN) and PORN syndromes.3
The diagnosis of necrotising herpetic retinitis is usually based on clinical findings and confirmed by a good response to antiviral therapy. However, clinical findings are sometimes not clear enough to make a definite diagnosis, making the best and most specific therapeutic strategy uncertain. The wrong decision not only causes a delay of adapted treatment and a preventable loss of vision, but also exposes the patients to side effects of an unnecessary medication.%, http://www.100md.com
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive and specific technique, which has been performed successfully to detect viral DNA in ocular samples from immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients presenting with viral retinitis.4–7 However, most studies have investigated the diagnostic value of PCR performed on vitreous fluid. Paracentesis to obtain aqueous humour is much easier, safer, and less invasive than taking vitreous specimens. We wished to analyse whether PCR would be sensitive enough to detect viral DNA in minimal volumes of aqueous humour, in order to reach a rapid diagnosis and apply prompt specific treatment.
PATIENTS AND METHODSj52'hd, 百拇医药
Topj52'hd, 百拇医药
ABSTRACTj52'hd, 百拇医药
PATIENTS AND METHODSj52'hd, 百拇医药
RESULTSj52'hd, 百拇医药
DISCUSSIONj52'hd, 百拇医药
REFERENCESj52'hd, 百拇医药
Twenty two patients (29 eyes) with a diagnosis of ARN or PORN syndrome were treated at the department of ophthalmology (Pitié-Salpêtriére Hospital, Paris, France) between March 1999 and June 2001. The clinical diagnosis of ARN syndrome was based on characteristic clinical criteria described by the executive committee of the American Uveitis Society: focal, well demarcated areas of retinal necrosis located in the peripheral retina; rapid, circumferential progression of necrosis; evidence of retinal vasculitis and a prominent inflammatory reaction in the vitreous and anterior chamber.5 The PORN cases were characterised by rapidly progressive, multifocal, deep retinal opacifications involving both the peripheral retina and the posterior pole. All cases showed mild intraocular inflammation. The ocular findings were virtually identical to those reported by Forster et al.2 Atypical retinal necrosis, which did not respond to antiviral therapy (intravenous foscarnet), with aqueous humour PCR positive for Toxoplasma gondii and negative for herpesviruses were excluded.
Anterior chamber tap was performed on the day of admission. Aqueous humour, 100–150 µl, was aspirated, using a 30 gauge needle passing through the limbus. Informed consent was obtained from all patients.$z|;, http://www.100md.com
Aqueous samples from 22 eyes of 22 patients with ARN or PORN syndrome were analysed for the presence of herpesviruses by PCR.8,9 As controls, 10 aqueous samples from patients with clinical features of an active uveitis were analysed. This group included toxoplasma uveitis (n = 6), primary intraocular lymphoma (n = 2), syphilis retinitis (n = 1), and sarcoidosis (n = 1).$z|;, http://www.100md.com
PCR$z|;, http://www.100md.com
Aqueous humour, 10–20 µl, were used for each PCR reaction. DNA was either phenol chloroform extracted using classic procedures or simply treated by boiling and ethanol precipitating the samples. A single PCR for HSV-1, HSV-2, and EBV was performed as previously described.8 Amplified products were visualised on ethidium stained agarose gels, then characterised with reference to their specific migration pattern before and after digestion with restriction enzymes SmaI and BamHI. The sensitivity of this technique was evaluated at 5 x 102 genome equivalents (GEq)/ml for HSV-1, and 2 x 103 GEq/ml for HSV-2 by a European quality control HSV test panel. Specific CMV and VZV PCR assays were performed using slightly modified published procedures while preserving the described sensitivities.9–11 Using the same technique, 2–20 copies of EBV DNA could be detected, as previously described. The sensitivity of the published CMV and VZV PCR tests was evaluated by serial dilution of infected cell culture supernatants, and reached 10-6 for VZV and 10-5 for CMV. Amplification products were detected on agarose gels, and their specificity was confirmed by hybridisation with digoxigenin labelled specific oligonucleotide probes.
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Top-[;q(, http://www.100md.com
ABSTRACT-[;q(, http://www.100md.com
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RESULTS-[;q(, http://www.100md.com
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An ARN syndrome was confirmed in 19 patients (23 eyes) according to criteria of the American Uveitis Society (Table 1).1 Mean age was 44.1 years. Ten patients were men and nine were women. One patient was HIV positive with a CD4+ count of 170 cells x 6/l (Fig 1, top left). One patient had a history of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was in remission following chemotherapy. Two patients had chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Two patients were treated with immunosuppressive drugs and corticosteroids for kidney transplant and pulmonary fibrosis. Three patients had a previous history of ARN syndrome and were referred either for involvement of the fellow eye or for relapse of retinitis in the same eye. A previous history of herpes zoster was noted in three patients and of neonatal herpes simplex infection in one patient. The interval between onset of disease and admission to the department of ophthalmology was between 1 day and 1 week in six patients, between 1 week and 1 month in eight patients and was more than 1 month in five patients. Four patients had received antiviral therapy before the anterior chamber tap.
fig.ommitteed(w8kki, 百拇医药
Table 1 Summary of clinical features of 22 patients with viral retinitis who underwent anterior chamber tap for aqueous humour PCR annalysis for the detection of herpesviruses(w8kki, 百拇医药
fig.ommitteed(w8kki, 百拇医药
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.(w8kki, 百拇医药
PORN was diagnosed in three male patients (six eyes). Mean age was 39.6 years. Two patients were HIV positive and one was HIV negative. The CD4+ counts ranged from 4–13 cells/µl in HIV positive patients. In this group of patients, aqueous humour samples were obtained within 1 week after onset of symptoms.(w8kki, 百拇医药
PCR for detection of viral DNA from aqueous samples was performed in all 22 patients (aqueous humour samples, n = 24) (Table 2). The reaction was positive in 19/22 patients (86.4%). Two patients (Nos 6 and 21) underwent two successive anterior chamber paracentesis in the same eye because of a negative result following the first procedure. PCR performed on the second sample, which was taken 1 week later, proved positive (while these patients were taking intravenous foscarnet). No complication from anterior chamber paracentesis was noted. In patient 17, PCR was negative but anti-EBV IgM were detected in the serum and IgG titres significantly increased in serum obtained 4 weeks later. In this patient, anti-EBNA IgG were absent, suggesting recent EBV infection. Aqueous specimens were negative in two patients (Nos 12 and 13) who had received 2 and 10 days, respectively, of intravenous aciclovir therapy before the anterior chamber tap.
fig.ommitteed6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
Table 2 Results of PCR analysis performed on aqueous humour6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
In the ARN syndrome group (n = 19), PCR detected HSV-1 in two cases, HSV-2 in four cases, VZV in six cases, CMV in four cases, and no viral DNA was found in three cases. In the PRN syndrome group (n = 3), VZV was detected in all cases. No viral DNA was detected in any aqueous sample from the control group patients.6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
DISCUSSION6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
Top6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
ABSTRACT6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
PATIENTS AND METHODS6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
RESULTS6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
DISCUSSION6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
REFERENCES6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
The viral cause of ARN syndrome has been determined by previous studies using a variety of diagnostic techniques: electron microscopy,12 immunocytochemistry,13 viral culture from intraocular specimens,13,14 serological analysis of serum and/or intraocular fluid,15–21 and, more recently, by PCR. 6,20–25 These studies showed that most cases of ARN syndrome are caused by VZV, HSV-1, and HSV-2, and rarely by CMV. The PORN syndrome was first reported by Forster in 1990.2 A member of the herpesvirus family was first suspected as a causative agent by electron microscopy.2 Since then, VZV has been detected by PCR in most cases,26,27 although HSV-1 has recently been reported as a cause.28
In a study by Ganatra et al6 who used PCR from vitreous and aqueous samples to detect viral DNA in 28 patients with ARN syndrome, VZV was detected in 13 cases (46%), HSV-1 in seven cases (25%), HSV-2 in six cases (21.4%), and CMV in one case (3.6%). Mean age was 57.2 years in the VZV group, 44.2 in the HSV-1 group, 26.8 in the HSV-2 group. In Japan, Ichikawa et al23 determined the viral cause of Kirisawa uveitis in a series of 44 patients (50 eyes) using IgG titres and/or PCR. They found that VZV was the pathogenic organism in 37 eyes (70%) of 31 patients and HSV in 13 eyes (30%) of 13 patients. Mean age was 47.9 years in the VZV group and 34.4 in the HSV group. HSV-2 seems also to have a high prevalence in ARN syndrome associated with HSV in Japan.24\wae@ag, 百拇医药
In our study of 19 patients with ARN, VZV was found in six cases (31.6%), HSV-1 in two cases (10.5%), HSV-2 in four cases (21%), CMV in four cases (21%), and EBV was highly suspected in one case (5.2%). Mean age was 47.3 years in the VZV group, 46.2 in the HSV group, and 52.8 years in the CMV group. The high prevalence of HSV in the ARN syndrome was thus more like that reported by Ganatra et al, than that reported by Ichikawa et al. There were also more cases of CMV in this group. In addition, patients were older and all immunodeficient: three were treated with immunosuppressive drugs and one was HIV positive. However, our series requires more cases to determine a possible association between the patient’s age and virus type.
Patient 17 was a 13 year old girl presenting with a mild form of ARN syndrome concomitant with EBV primary infection. Recently, one case of ARN has been reported in an HIV negative homosexual man with increased titres of anti-EBV-IgG, anti-EBV nuclear and early antigens who suffered from EBV infection and pericarditis 15 years earlier. In this case, however, PCR of intraocular fluid was not performed.29 EBV should thus be considered as a potential cause of ARN syndrome and sought by serological and/or PCR analysis.$p8, 百拇医药
In our patients with PORN syndrome, VZV was detected in all cases. This result was similar to others studies.22,27$p8, 百拇医药
Patients 18 and 19 (Fig 1, top right) had received aciclovir therapy before anterior chamber tap, which may explain negative PCR results. Indeed, antiviral therapy may decrease viral replication below the threshold of PCR sensitivity.7,8 Although no viral DNA was detected, the final diagnosis of herpesvirus retinitis was most likely, since the disease resolved after foscarnet treatment with good final visual acuity. In contrast, for patients 6 and 21, PCR performed on the first aqueous sample was negative but became positive on a second sample obtained 1 week later, although these patients were both treated with intravenous foscarnet. These results suggest that antiviral therapy for a week does not prevent detection of viral DNA by PCR in aqueous humour. Previous studies showed that in spite of antiviral treatment, PCR from ocular specimens of AIDS patients with CMV retinitis were positive.5,7,21 Interestingly, similar findings were observed in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with herpes simplex encephalitis. In this group of patients, HSV-DNA was detected in half of cases during the second week of the disease.8
Previous studies that have analysed the viral cause of necrotising herpetic retinitis by PCR used only vitreous samples,30,31 aqueous, and/or vitreous samples.6,20–22,25 To our knowledge, this study is the largest monocentric case series of necrotising herpetic retinitis in Europe with a viral cause as determined by PCR of aqueous humour within a short (3 year) period.@, http://www.100md.com
Although the diagnosis of necrotising retinitis is based on clinical findings, the presentation is in some cases not clear enough and early viral DNA detection by PCR may be helpful in such cases. The results of this study are encouraging, since they indicate that amplification of DNA in aqueous humour is sensitive enough to become an appropriate method for detecting the causative agent of necrotising herpetic retinitis. Anterior chamber paracentesis is preferable to pars plana vitreous biopsy in many cases, since it is easier and more convenient to perform in an emergency. Side effects of anterior chamber taps are rare (hyphaema, cataract secondary to perforation of the lens capsule), and no complication was observed after paracentesis in this study or in previous reports.20,22,32–35 Advances in DNA extraction procedures and PCR techniques have contributed to reducing the time waiting for results, which can be available within 24–48 hours. The benefit of a reliable result leading to a rapid diagnosis and accurate treatment outweighs theoretical risks. However, aqueous samples may contain less viral DNA than vitreous for PCR amplification. An initial negative result should lead to repeated paracentesis, especially in patients who are on antiviral therapy for a presumptive diagnosis of viral retinitis.
Although clinical features observed in ARN patients may be highly suggestive of a herpesvirus aetiology, they do not allow differentiating HSV from VZV caused cases. Ichikawa et al23 reported 44 cases of Kirisawa-type uveitis (KU) and found that the VZV group included a significantly greater number of severe and serious cases than the HSV group. Only 32% of VZV-KU and 67% of HSV-KU eyes had a final visual acuity of greater than 0.5. This report suggests that VZV induced ARN syndrome may be more severe than HSV induced ARN syndrome and may require intensive antiviral therapy.o?o, 百拇医药
In summary, our results indicate that reliable identification of the pathogenic agent was possible by PCR analysis of aqueous samples in 86.4% of cases with necrotising retinitis. Moreover, early use of such highly sensitive and specific PCR based assays may not only contribute to the diagnosis, but also to the management of patients with necrotising herpetic retinitis.o?o, 百拇医药
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Top|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
ABSTRACT|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
PATIENTS AND METHODS|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
RESULTS|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
DISCUSSION|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
REFERENCES|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
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El Azazi M, Samuelsson A, Linde A, et al. Intrathecal antibody production against viruses of the herpesvirus family in acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1991;112:76–82.9, http://www.100md.com
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Department of Ophthalmology, Pitié-Salpêtriére Hospital, Paris, France62&[ss, 百拇医药
2 Department of Virology, Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital, Paris, France62&[ss, 百拇医药
3 Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA62&[ss, 百拇医药
Accepted for publication 16 July 200262&[ss, 百拇医药
ABSTRACT62&[ss, 百拇医药
Top62&[ss, 百拇医药
ABSTRACT62&[ss, 百拇医药
PATIENTS AND METHODS62&[ss, 百拇医药
RESULTS62&[ss, 百拇医药
DISCUSSION62&[ss, 百拇医药
REFERENCES62&[ss, 百拇医药
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.'j., 百拇医药
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.'j., 百拇医药
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.
Keywords: retinal necrosis; herpesviruses; paracentesis; polymerase chain reaction*{, 百拇医药
A cute retinal necrosis syndrome is characterised by peripheral necrotising retinitis, retinal arteritis, and a prominent inflammatory reaction in the vitreous and anterior chamber of apparently immunocompetent patients.1 Progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) syndrome has been described as a similar syndrome with minimal inflammation in immunocompromised patients.2 The term necrotising herpetic retinitis refers to a spectrum of diseases induced by herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)) that encompasses both acute retinal necrosis (ARN) and PORN syndromes.3*{, 百拇医药
The diagnosis of necrotising herpetic retinitis is usually based on clinical findings and confirmed by a good response to antiviral therapy. However, clinical findings are sometimes not clear enough to make a definite diagnosis, making the best and most specific therapeutic strategy uncertain. The wrong decision not only causes a delay of adapted treatment and a preventable loss of vision, but also exposes the patients to side effects of an unnecessary medication.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive and specific technique, which has been performed successfully to detect viral DNA in ocular samples from immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients presenting with viral retinitis.4–7 However, most studies have investigated the diagnostic value of PCR performed on vitreous fluid. Paracentesis to obtain aqueous humour is much easier, safer, and less invasive than taking vitreous specimens. We wished to analyse whether PCR would be sensitive enough to detect viral DNA in minimal volumes of aqueous humour, in order to reach a rapid diagnosis and apply prompt specific treatment.h[aidr, 百拇医药
PATIENTS AND METHODSh[aidr, 百拇医药
Toph[aidr, 百拇医药
ABSTRACTh[aidr, 百拇医药
PATIENTS AND METHODSh[aidr, 百拇医药
RESULTSh[aidr, 百拇医药
DISCUSSIONh[aidr, 百拇医药
REFERENCESh[aidr, 百拇医药
Twenty two patients (29 eyes) with a diagnosis of ARN or PORN syndrome were treated at the department of ophthalmology (Pitié-Salpêtriére Hospital, Paris, France) between March 1999 and June 2001. The clinical diagnosis of ARN syndrome was based on characteristic clinical criteria described by the executive committee of the American Uveitis Society: focal, well demarcated areas of retinal necrosis located in the peripheral retina; rapid, circumferential progression of necrosis; evidence of retinal vasculitis and a prominent inflammatory reaction in the vitreous and anterior chamber.5 The PORN cases were characterised by rapidly progressive, multifocal, deep retinal opacifications involving both the peripheral retina and the posterior pole. All cases showed mild intraocular inflammation. The ocular findings were virtually identical to those reported by Forster et al.2 Atypical retinal necrosis, which did not respond to antiviral therapy (intravenous foscarnet), with aqueous humour PCR positive for Toxoplasma gondii and negative for herpesviruses were excluded.
Anterior chamber tap was performed on the day of admission. Aqueous humour, 100–150 µl, was aspirated, using a 30 gauge needle passing through the limbus. Informed consent was obtained from all patients.ep, 百拇医药
Aqueous samples from 22 eyes of 22 patients with ARN or PORN syndrome were analysed for the presence of herpesviruses by PCR.8,9 As controls, 10 aqueous samples from patients with clinical features of an active uveitis were analysed. This group included toxoplasma uveitis (n = 6), primary intraocular lymphoma (n = 2), syphilis retinitis (n = 1), and sarcoidosis (n = 1).ep, 百拇医药
PCRep, 百拇医药
Aqueous humour, 10–20 µl, were used for each PCR reaction. DNA was either phenol chloroform extracted using classic procedures or simply treated by boiling and ethanol precipitating the samples. A single PCR for HSV-1, HSV-2, and EBV was performed as previously described.8 Amplified products were visualised on ethidium stained agarose gels, then characterised with reference to their specific migration pattern before and after digestion with restriction enzymes SmaI and BamHI. The sensitivity of this technique was evaluated at 5 x 102 genome equivalents (GEq)/ml for HSV-1, and 2 x 103 GEq/ml for HSV-2 by a European quality control HSV test panel. Specific CMV and VZV PCR assays were performed using slightly modified published procedures while preserving the described sensitivities.9–11 Using the same technique, 2–20 copies of EBV DNA could be detected, as previously described. The sensitivity of the published CMV and VZV PCR tests was evaluated by serial dilution of infected cell culture supernatants, and reached 10-6 for VZV and 10-5 for CMV. Amplification products were detected on agarose gels, and their specificity was confirmed by hybridisation with digoxigenin labelled specific oligonucleotide probes.
RESULTSm]6, 百拇医药
Topm]6, 百拇医药
ABSTRACTm]6, 百拇医药
PATIENTS AND METHODSm]6, 百拇医药
RESULTSm]6, 百拇医药
DISCUSSIONm]6, 百拇医药
REFERENCESm]6, 百拇医药
An ARN syndrome was confirmed in 19 patients (23 eyes) according to criteria of the American Uveitis Society (Table 1).1 Mean age was 44.1 years. Ten patients were men and nine were women. One patient was HIV positive with a CD4+ count of 170 cells x 6/l (Fig 1, top left). One patient had a history of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was in remission following chemotherapy. Two patients had chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Two patients were treated with immunosuppressive drugs and corticosteroids for kidney transplant and pulmonary fibrosis. Three patients had a previous history of ARN syndrome and were referred either for involvement of the fellow eye or for relapse of retinitis in the same eye. A previous history of herpes zoster was noted in three patients and of neonatal herpes simplex infection in one patient. The interval between onset of disease and admission to the department of ophthalmology was between 1 day and 1 week in six patients, between 1 week and 1 month in eight patients and was more than 1 month in five patients. Four patients had received antiviral therapy before the anterior chamber tap.
fig.ommitteed2}[{, http://www.100md.com
Table 1 Summary of clinical features of 22 patients with viral retinitis who underwent anterior chamber tap for aqueous humour PCR annalysis for the detection of herpesviruses2}[{, http://www.100md.com
fig.ommitteed2}[{, http://www.100md.com
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.2}[{, http://www.100md.com
PORN was diagnosed in three male patients (six eyes). Mean age was 39.6 years. Two patients were HIV positive and one was HIV negative. The CD4+ counts ranged from 4–13 cells/µl in HIV positive patients. In this group of patients, aqueous humour samples were obtained within 1 week after onset of symptoms.2}[{, http://www.100md.com
PCR for detection of viral DNA from aqueous samples was performed in all 22 patients (aqueous humour samples, n = 24) (Table 2). The reaction was positive in 19/22 patients (86.4%). Two patients (Nos 6 and 21) underwent two successive anterior chamber paracentesis in the same eye because of a negative result following the first procedure. PCR performed on the second sample, which was taken 1 week later, proved positive (while these patients were taking intravenous foscarnet). No complication from anterior chamber paracentesis was noted. In patient 17, PCR was negative but anti-EBV IgM were detected in the serum and IgG titres significantly increased in serum obtained 4 weeks later. In this patient, anti-EBNA IgG were absent, suggesting recent EBV infection. Aqueous specimens were negative in two patients (Nos 12 and 13) who had received 2 and 10 days, respectively, of intravenous aciclovir therapy before the anterior chamber tap.
fig.ommitteed0k\/8{], 百拇医药
Table 2 Results of PCR analysis performed on aqueous humour0k\/8{], 百拇医药
In the ARN syndrome group (n = 19), PCR detected HSV-1 in two cases, HSV-2 in four cases, VZV in six cases, CMV in four cases, and no viral DNA was found in three cases. In the PRN syndrome group (n = 3), VZV was detected in all cases. No viral DNA was detected in any aqueous sample from the control group patients.0k\/8{], 百拇医药
DISCUSSION0k\/8{], 百拇医药
Top0k\/8{], 百拇医药
ABSTRACT0k\/8{], 百拇医药
PATIENTS AND METHODS0k\/8{], 百拇医药
RESULTS0k\/8{], 百拇医药
DISCUSSION0k\/8{], 百拇医药
REFERENCES0k\/8{], 百拇医药
The viral cause of ARN syndrome has been determined by previous studies using a variety of diagnostic techniques: electron microscopy,12 immunocytochemistry,13 viral culture from intraocular specimens,13,14 serological analysis of serum and/or intraocular fluid,15–21 and, more recently, by PCR. 6,20–25 These studies showed that most cases of ARN syndrome are caused by VZV, HSV-1, and HSV-2, and rarely by CMV. The PORN syndrome was first reported by Forster in 1990.2 A member of the herpesvirus family was first suspected as a causative agent by electron microscopy.2 Since then, VZV has been detected by PCR in most cases,26,27 although HSV-1 has recently been reported as a cause.28
In a study by Ganatra et al6 who used PCR from vitreous and aqueous samples to detect viral DNA in 28 patients with ARN syndrome, VZV was detected in 13 cases (46%), HSV-1 in seven cases (25%), HSV-2 in six cases (21.4%), and CMV in one case (3.6%). Mean age was 57.2 years in the VZV group, 44.2 in the HSV-1 group, 26.8 in the HSV-2 group. In Japan, Ichikawa et al23 determined the viral cause of Kirisawa uveitis in a series of 44 patients (50 eyes) using IgG titres and/or PCR. They found that VZV was the pathogenic organism in 37 eyes (70%) of 31 patients and HSV in 13 eyes (30%) of 13 patients. Mean age was 47.9 years in the VZV group and 34.4 in the HSV group. HSV-2 seems also to have a high prevalence in ARN syndrome associated with HSV in Japan.24sq4:g4?, http://www.100md.com
In our study of 19 patients with ARN, VZV was found in six cases (31.6%), HSV-1 in two cases (10.5%), HSV-2 in four cases (21%), CMV in four cases (21%), and EBV was highly suspected in one case (5.2%). Mean age was 47.3 years in the VZV group, 46.2 in the HSV group, and 52.8 years in the CMV group. The high prevalence of HSV in the ARN syndrome was thus more like that reported by Ganatra et al, than that reported by Ichikawa et al. There were also more cases of CMV in this group. In addition, patients were older and all immunodeficient: three were treated with immunosuppressive drugs and one was HIV positive. However, our series requires more cases to determine a possible association between the patient’s age and virus type.
Patient 17 was a 13 year old girl presenting with a mild form of ARN syndrome concomitant with EBV primary infection. Recently, one case of ARN has been reported in an HIV negative homosexual man with increased titres of anti-EBV-IgG, anti-EBV nuclear and early antigens who suffered from EBV infection and pericarditis 15 years earlier. In this case, however, PCR of intraocular fluid was not performed.29 EBV should thus be considered as a potential cause of ARN syndrome and sought by serological and/or PCR analysis.1, 百拇医药
In our patients with PORN syndrome, VZV was detected in all cases. This result was similar to others studies.22,271, 百拇医药
Patients 18 and 19 (Fig 1, top right) had received aciclovir therapy before anterior chamber tap, which may explain negative PCR results. Indeed, antiviral therapy may decrease viral replication below the threshold of PCR sensitivity.7,8 Although no viral DNA was detected, the final diagnosis of herpesvirus retinitis was most likely, since the disease resolved after foscarnet treatment with good final visual acuity. In contrast, for patients 6 and 21, PCR performed on the first aqueous sample was negative but became positive on a second sample obtained 1 week later, although these patients were both treated with intravenous foscarnet. These results suggest that antiviral therapy for a week does not prevent detection of viral DNA by PCR in aqueous humour. Previous studies showed that in spite of antiviral treatment, PCR from ocular specimens of AIDS patients with CMV retinitis were positive.5,7,21 Interestingly, similar findings were observed in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with herpes simplex encephalitis. In this group of patients, HSV-DNA was detected in half of cases during the second week of the disease.8
Previous studies that have analysed the viral cause of necrotising herpetic retinitis by PCR used only vitreous samples,30,31 aqueous, and/or vitreous samples.6,20–22,25 To our knowledge, this study is the largest monocentric case series of necrotising herpetic retinitis in Europe with a viral cause as determined by PCR of aqueous humour within a short (3 year) period.s&f, 百拇医药
Although the diagnosis of necrotising retinitis is based on clinical findings, the presentation is in some cases not clear enough and early viral DNA detection by PCR may be helpful in such cases. The results of this study are encouraging, since they indicate that amplification of DNA in aqueous humour is sensitive enough to become an appropriate method for detecting the causative agent of necrotising herpetic retinitis. Anterior chamber paracentesis is preferable to pars plana vitreous biopsy in many cases, since it is easier and more convenient to perform in an emergency. Side effects of anterior chamber taps are rare (hyphaema, cataract secondary to perforation of the lens capsule), and no complication was observed after paracentesis in this study or in previous reports.20,22,32–35 Advances in DNA extraction procedures and PCR techniques have contributed to reducing the time waiting for results, which can be available within 24–48 hours. The benefit of a reliable result leading to a rapid diagnosis and accurate treatment outweighs theoretical risks. However, aqueous samples may contain less viral DNA than vitreous for PCR amplification. An initial negative result should lead to repeated paracentesis, especially in patients who are on antiviral therapy for a presumptive diagnosis of viral retinitis.
Although clinical features observed in ARN patients may be highly suggestive of a herpesvirus aetiology, they do not allow differentiating HSV from VZV caused cases. Ichikawa et al23 reported 44 cases of Kirisawa-type uveitis (KU) and found that the VZV group included a significantly greater number of severe and serious cases than the HSV group. Only 32% of VZV-KU and 67% of HSV-KU eyes had a final visual acuity of greater than 0.5. This report suggests that VZV induced ARN syndrome may be more severe than HSV induced ARN syndrome and may require intensive antiviral therapy.1g2];, http://www.100md.com
In summary, our results indicate that reliable identification of the pathogenic agent was possible by PCR analysis of aqueous samples in 86.4% of cases with necrotising retinitis. Moreover, early use of such highly sensitive and specific PCR based assays may not only contribute to the diagnosis, but also to the management of patients with necrotising herpetic retinitis.1g2];, http://www.100md.com
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ABSTRACTiu!w), http://www.100md.com
PATIENTS AND METHODSiu!w), http://www.100md.com
RESULTSiu!w), http://www.100md.com
DISCUSSIONiu!w), http://www.100md.com
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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.iu!w), http://www.100md.com
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.x*a/, 百拇医药
Ganatra JB, Chandler D, Santos C, et al. Viral causes of the acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 2000;129:166–72.x*a/, 百拇医药
McCann JD, Margolis TP, Wong MG, et al. A sensitive and specific polymerase chain reaction-based assay for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis. Am J Ophthalmol 1995;120:219–26.x*a/, 百拇医药
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Schwartz HN, Cashwell F, Hawkins HK, et al. Necrotizing retinopathy with herpes zoster ophthalmicus : a light and electron microscopial study. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1976;100:386–91.q|}, 百拇医药
Culbertson WW, Blumenkranz MS, Pepose JS, et al. Varicella zoster virus is a cause of the acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Ophthalmology 1986;93:559–69.q|}, 百拇医药
Duker JS, Nielsen JC, Eagle RC, et al. Rapidly progressive acute retinal necrosis secondary to herpes simplex virus, type 1. Ophthalmology 1990;97:1638–43.q|}, 百拇医药
El Azazi M, Samuelsson A, Linde A, et al. Intrathecal antibody production against viruses of the herpesvirus family in acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1991;112:76–82.q|}, 百拇医药
Pepose JS, Flowers B, Stewart JA, et al. Herpesvirus antibody levels in the etiologic diagnosis of the acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1992;113:248–56.
Chung YM, Liu JH, Yeh TS. Acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Chung Hua I Hsueh Tsa Chih (Taipei) 1993;51:116–22.hf, http://www.100md.com
Rochat C, Herbort CP. Acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Lausanne cases, review of the literature and new physiopathogenetic hypothesis. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd 1994;204:440–9.hf, http://www.100md.com
De Boer JH, Luyendijk L, Rothova A, et al. Detection of intraocular antibody production to herpesviruses in acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1994;117:201–10.hf, http://www.100md.com
De Boer JH, Verhagen C, Bruinenberg M, et al. Serologic and polymerase chain reaction analysis of intraocular fluids in the diagnosis of infectious uveitis. Am J Ophthalmol 1996;121:650–8.hf, http://www.100md.com
Abe T, Tsuchida K, Tamai M. A comparative study of the polymerase chain reaction and local antibody production in acute retinal necrosis syndrome and cytomegalovirus retinitis. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 1996;234:419–24.hf, http://www.100md.com
Garweg J, Bohnke M. Varicella-zoster virus is strongly associated with atypical necrotizing herpetic retinopathies. Clin Infect Dis 1997;24:603–8.
Ichikawa T, Sakai J, Yamauchi Y, et al. A study of 44 patients with Kirisawa type uveitis. Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi 1997;101:243–7.3$9;cgj, http://www.100md.com
Itoh N, Matsumura N, Ogi A, et al. High prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 in acute retinal necrosis syndrome associated with herpes simplex virus in Japan. Am J Ophthalmol 2000;129:404–5.3$9;cgj, http://www.100md.com
Nishi M, Hanashiro R, Mori S, et al. Polymerase chain reaction for the detection of the varicella-zoster genome in ocular samples from patients with acute retinal necrosis. Am J Ophthalmol 1992;114:603–9.3$9;cgj, http://www.100md.com
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Knox CM, Chandler D, Short GA, et al. Polymerase chain reaction-based assays of vitreous samples for the diagnosis of viral retinitis. Use in diagnostic dilemmas. Ophthalmology 1998;105:37–44; discussion 44–5.+t, 百拇医药
Short GA, Margolis TP, Kuppermann BD, et al. A polymerase chain reaction-based assay for diagnosing varicella-zoster virus retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1997;123:157–64.+t, 百拇医药
Verbraak FD, Galema M, van den Horn GH, et al. Serological and polymerase chain reaction-based analysis of aqueous humour samples in patients with AIDS and necrotizing retinitis. AIDS 1996;10:1091–9.+t, 百拇医药
Baarsma GS, Luyendijk L, Kijlstra A, et al. Analysis of local antibody production in the vitreous humor of patients with severe uveitis. Am J Ophthamol 1991;117:201–10.+t, 百拇医药
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Luyendijk L, vd Horn GJ, Visser OH, et al. Detection of locally produced antibodies to herpes viruses in the aqueous of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or acute retinal necrosis syndrome (ARN). Curr Eye Res 1990;9:7–11.(T H C Tran, F Rozenberg, N Cassoux, N A Rao, P LeHoangand B Bodaghi)
2 Department of Virology, Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital, Paris, France., http://www.100md.com
3 Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA., http://www.100md.com
Accepted for publication 16 July 2002., http://www.100md.com
ABSTRACT., http://www.100md.com
Top., http://www.100md.com
ABSTRACT., http://www.100md.com
PATIENTS AND METHODS., http://www.100md.com
RESULTS., http://www.100md.com
DISCUSSION., http://www.100md.com
REFERENCES., http://www.100md.com
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.., http://www.100md.com
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.dp44/y5, 百拇医药
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.dp44/y5, 百拇医药
Keywords: retinal necrosis; herpesviruses; paracentesis; polymerase chain reactiondp44/y5, 百拇医药
A cute retinal necrosis syndrome is characterised by peripheral necrotising retinitis, retinal arteritis, and a prominent inflammatory reaction in the vitreous and anterior chamber of apparently immunocompetent patients.1 Progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) syndrome has been described as a similar syndrome with minimal inflammation in immunocompromised patients.2 The term necrotising herpetic retinitis refers to a spectrum of diseases induced by herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)) that encompasses both acute retinal necrosis (ARN) and PORN syndromes.3
The diagnosis of necrotising herpetic retinitis is usually based on clinical findings and confirmed by a good response to antiviral therapy. However, clinical findings are sometimes not clear enough to make a definite diagnosis, making the best and most specific therapeutic strategy uncertain. The wrong decision not only causes a delay of adapted treatment and a preventable loss of vision, but also exposes the patients to side effects of an unnecessary medication.%, http://www.100md.com
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive and specific technique, which has been performed successfully to detect viral DNA in ocular samples from immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients presenting with viral retinitis.4–7 However, most studies have investigated the diagnostic value of PCR performed on vitreous fluid. Paracentesis to obtain aqueous humour is much easier, safer, and less invasive than taking vitreous specimens. We wished to analyse whether PCR would be sensitive enough to detect viral DNA in minimal volumes of aqueous humour, in order to reach a rapid diagnosis and apply prompt specific treatment.
PATIENTS AND METHODSj52'hd, 百拇医药
Topj52'hd, 百拇医药
ABSTRACTj52'hd, 百拇医药
PATIENTS AND METHODSj52'hd, 百拇医药
RESULTSj52'hd, 百拇医药
DISCUSSIONj52'hd, 百拇医药
REFERENCESj52'hd, 百拇医药
Twenty two patients (29 eyes) with a diagnosis of ARN or PORN syndrome were treated at the department of ophthalmology (Pitié-Salpêtriére Hospital, Paris, France) between March 1999 and June 2001. The clinical diagnosis of ARN syndrome was based on characteristic clinical criteria described by the executive committee of the American Uveitis Society: focal, well demarcated areas of retinal necrosis located in the peripheral retina; rapid, circumferential progression of necrosis; evidence of retinal vasculitis and a prominent inflammatory reaction in the vitreous and anterior chamber.5 The PORN cases were characterised by rapidly progressive, multifocal, deep retinal opacifications involving both the peripheral retina and the posterior pole. All cases showed mild intraocular inflammation. The ocular findings were virtually identical to those reported by Forster et al.2 Atypical retinal necrosis, which did not respond to antiviral therapy (intravenous foscarnet), with aqueous humour PCR positive for Toxoplasma gondii and negative for herpesviruses were excluded.
Anterior chamber tap was performed on the day of admission. Aqueous humour, 100–150 µl, was aspirated, using a 30 gauge needle passing through the limbus. Informed consent was obtained from all patients.$z|;, http://www.100md.com
Aqueous samples from 22 eyes of 22 patients with ARN or PORN syndrome were analysed for the presence of herpesviruses by PCR.8,9 As controls, 10 aqueous samples from patients with clinical features of an active uveitis were analysed. This group included toxoplasma uveitis (n = 6), primary intraocular lymphoma (n = 2), syphilis retinitis (n = 1), and sarcoidosis (n = 1).$z|;, http://www.100md.com
PCR$z|;, http://www.100md.com
Aqueous humour, 10–20 µl, were used for each PCR reaction. DNA was either phenol chloroform extracted using classic procedures or simply treated by boiling and ethanol precipitating the samples. A single PCR for HSV-1, HSV-2, and EBV was performed as previously described.8 Amplified products were visualised on ethidium stained agarose gels, then characterised with reference to their specific migration pattern before and after digestion with restriction enzymes SmaI and BamHI. The sensitivity of this technique was evaluated at 5 x 102 genome equivalents (GEq)/ml for HSV-1, and 2 x 103 GEq/ml for HSV-2 by a European quality control HSV test panel. Specific CMV and VZV PCR assays were performed using slightly modified published procedures while preserving the described sensitivities.9–11 Using the same technique, 2–20 copies of EBV DNA could be detected, as previously described. The sensitivity of the published CMV and VZV PCR tests was evaluated by serial dilution of infected cell culture supernatants, and reached 10-6 for VZV and 10-5 for CMV. Amplification products were detected on agarose gels, and their specificity was confirmed by hybridisation with digoxigenin labelled specific oligonucleotide probes.
RESULTS-[;q(, http://www.100md.com
Top-[;q(, http://www.100md.com
ABSTRACT-[;q(, http://www.100md.com
PATIENTS AND METHODS-[;q(, http://www.100md.com
RESULTS-[;q(, http://www.100md.com
DISCUSSION-[;q(, http://www.100md.com
REFERENCES-[;q(, http://www.100md.com
An ARN syndrome was confirmed in 19 patients (23 eyes) according to criteria of the American Uveitis Society (Table 1).1 Mean age was 44.1 years. Ten patients were men and nine were women. One patient was HIV positive with a CD4+ count of 170 cells x 6/l (Fig 1, top left). One patient had a history of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was in remission following chemotherapy. Two patients had chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Two patients were treated with immunosuppressive drugs and corticosteroids for kidney transplant and pulmonary fibrosis. Three patients had a previous history of ARN syndrome and were referred either for involvement of the fellow eye or for relapse of retinitis in the same eye. A previous history of herpes zoster was noted in three patients and of neonatal herpes simplex infection in one patient. The interval between onset of disease and admission to the department of ophthalmology was between 1 day and 1 week in six patients, between 1 week and 1 month in eight patients and was more than 1 month in five patients. Four patients had received antiviral therapy before the anterior chamber tap.
fig.ommitteed(w8kki, 百拇医药
Table 1 Summary of clinical features of 22 patients with viral retinitis who underwent anterior chamber tap for aqueous humour PCR annalysis for the detection of herpesviruses(w8kki, 百拇医药
fig.ommitteed(w8kki, 百拇医药
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.(w8kki, 百拇医药
PORN was diagnosed in three male patients (six eyes). Mean age was 39.6 years. Two patients were HIV positive and one was HIV negative. The CD4+ counts ranged from 4–13 cells/µl in HIV positive patients. In this group of patients, aqueous humour samples were obtained within 1 week after onset of symptoms.(w8kki, 百拇医药
PCR for detection of viral DNA from aqueous samples was performed in all 22 patients (aqueous humour samples, n = 24) (Table 2). The reaction was positive in 19/22 patients (86.4%). Two patients (Nos 6 and 21) underwent two successive anterior chamber paracentesis in the same eye because of a negative result following the first procedure. PCR performed on the second sample, which was taken 1 week later, proved positive (while these patients were taking intravenous foscarnet). No complication from anterior chamber paracentesis was noted. In patient 17, PCR was negative but anti-EBV IgM were detected in the serum and IgG titres significantly increased in serum obtained 4 weeks later. In this patient, anti-EBNA IgG were absent, suggesting recent EBV infection. Aqueous specimens were negative in two patients (Nos 12 and 13) who had received 2 and 10 days, respectively, of intravenous aciclovir therapy before the anterior chamber tap.
fig.ommitteed6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
Table 2 Results of PCR analysis performed on aqueous humour6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
In the ARN syndrome group (n = 19), PCR detected HSV-1 in two cases, HSV-2 in four cases, VZV in six cases, CMV in four cases, and no viral DNA was found in three cases. In the PRN syndrome group (n = 3), VZV was detected in all cases. No viral DNA was detected in any aqueous sample from the control group patients.6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
DISCUSSION6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
Top6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
ABSTRACT6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
PATIENTS AND METHODS6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
RESULTS6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
DISCUSSION6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
REFERENCES6&{'fjm, http://www.100md.com
The viral cause of ARN syndrome has been determined by previous studies using a variety of diagnostic techniques: electron microscopy,12 immunocytochemistry,13 viral culture from intraocular specimens,13,14 serological analysis of serum and/or intraocular fluid,15–21 and, more recently, by PCR. 6,20–25 These studies showed that most cases of ARN syndrome are caused by VZV, HSV-1, and HSV-2, and rarely by CMV. The PORN syndrome was first reported by Forster in 1990.2 A member of the herpesvirus family was first suspected as a causative agent by electron microscopy.2 Since then, VZV has been detected by PCR in most cases,26,27 although HSV-1 has recently been reported as a cause.28
In a study by Ganatra et al6 who used PCR from vitreous and aqueous samples to detect viral DNA in 28 patients with ARN syndrome, VZV was detected in 13 cases (46%), HSV-1 in seven cases (25%), HSV-2 in six cases (21.4%), and CMV in one case (3.6%). Mean age was 57.2 years in the VZV group, 44.2 in the HSV-1 group, 26.8 in the HSV-2 group. In Japan, Ichikawa et al23 determined the viral cause of Kirisawa uveitis in a series of 44 patients (50 eyes) using IgG titres and/or PCR. They found that VZV was the pathogenic organism in 37 eyes (70%) of 31 patients and HSV in 13 eyes (30%) of 13 patients. Mean age was 47.9 years in the VZV group and 34.4 in the HSV group. HSV-2 seems also to have a high prevalence in ARN syndrome associated with HSV in Japan.24\wae@ag, 百拇医药
In our study of 19 patients with ARN, VZV was found in six cases (31.6%), HSV-1 in two cases (10.5%), HSV-2 in four cases (21%), CMV in four cases (21%), and EBV was highly suspected in one case (5.2%). Mean age was 47.3 years in the VZV group, 46.2 in the HSV group, and 52.8 years in the CMV group. The high prevalence of HSV in the ARN syndrome was thus more like that reported by Ganatra et al, than that reported by Ichikawa et al. There were also more cases of CMV in this group. In addition, patients were older and all immunodeficient: three were treated with immunosuppressive drugs and one was HIV positive. However, our series requires more cases to determine a possible association between the patient’s age and virus type.
Patient 17 was a 13 year old girl presenting with a mild form of ARN syndrome concomitant with EBV primary infection. Recently, one case of ARN has been reported in an HIV negative homosexual man with increased titres of anti-EBV-IgG, anti-EBV nuclear and early antigens who suffered from EBV infection and pericarditis 15 years earlier. In this case, however, PCR of intraocular fluid was not performed.29 EBV should thus be considered as a potential cause of ARN syndrome and sought by serological and/or PCR analysis.$p8, 百拇医药
In our patients with PORN syndrome, VZV was detected in all cases. This result was similar to others studies.22,27$p8, 百拇医药
Patients 18 and 19 (Fig 1, top right) had received aciclovir therapy before anterior chamber tap, which may explain negative PCR results. Indeed, antiviral therapy may decrease viral replication below the threshold of PCR sensitivity.7,8 Although no viral DNA was detected, the final diagnosis of herpesvirus retinitis was most likely, since the disease resolved after foscarnet treatment with good final visual acuity. In contrast, for patients 6 and 21, PCR performed on the first aqueous sample was negative but became positive on a second sample obtained 1 week later, although these patients were both treated with intravenous foscarnet. These results suggest that antiviral therapy for a week does not prevent detection of viral DNA by PCR in aqueous humour. Previous studies showed that in spite of antiviral treatment, PCR from ocular specimens of AIDS patients with CMV retinitis were positive.5,7,21 Interestingly, similar findings were observed in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with herpes simplex encephalitis. In this group of patients, HSV-DNA was detected in half of cases during the second week of the disease.8
Previous studies that have analysed the viral cause of necrotising herpetic retinitis by PCR used only vitreous samples,30,31 aqueous, and/or vitreous samples.6,20–22,25 To our knowledge, this study is the largest monocentric case series of necrotising herpetic retinitis in Europe with a viral cause as determined by PCR of aqueous humour within a short (3 year) period.@, http://www.100md.com
Although the diagnosis of necrotising retinitis is based on clinical findings, the presentation is in some cases not clear enough and early viral DNA detection by PCR may be helpful in such cases. The results of this study are encouraging, since they indicate that amplification of DNA in aqueous humour is sensitive enough to become an appropriate method for detecting the causative agent of necrotising herpetic retinitis. Anterior chamber paracentesis is preferable to pars plana vitreous biopsy in many cases, since it is easier and more convenient to perform in an emergency. Side effects of anterior chamber taps are rare (hyphaema, cataract secondary to perforation of the lens capsule), and no complication was observed after paracentesis in this study or in previous reports.20,22,32–35 Advances in DNA extraction procedures and PCR techniques have contributed to reducing the time waiting for results, which can be available within 24–48 hours. The benefit of a reliable result leading to a rapid diagnosis and accurate treatment outweighs theoretical risks. However, aqueous samples may contain less viral DNA than vitreous for PCR amplification. An initial negative result should lead to repeated paracentesis, especially in patients who are on antiviral therapy for a presumptive diagnosis of viral retinitis.
Although clinical features observed in ARN patients may be highly suggestive of a herpesvirus aetiology, they do not allow differentiating HSV from VZV caused cases. Ichikawa et al23 reported 44 cases of Kirisawa-type uveitis (KU) and found that the VZV group included a significantly greater number of severe and serious cases than the HSV group. Only 32% of VZV-KU and 67% of HSV-KU eyes had a final visual acuity of greater than 0.5. This report suggests that VZV induced ARN syndrome may be more severe than HSV induced ARN syndrome and may require intensive antiviral therapy.o?o, 百拇医药
In summary, our results indicate that reliable identification of the pathogenic agent was possible by PCR analysis of aqueous samples in 86.4% of cases with necrotising retinitis. Moreover, early use of such highly sensitive and specific PCR based assays may not only contribute to the diagnosis, but also to the management of patients with necrotising herpetic retinitis.o?o, 百拇医药
REFERENCES
Top|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
ABSTRACT|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
PATIENTS AND METHODS|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
RESULTS|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
DISCUSSION|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
REFERENCES|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
Holland GN. Standard diagnostic criteria for the acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1994;117:663–7.|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
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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.|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
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.|e$7[., http://www.100md.com
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;109:266–71.8.5xr0, http://www.100md.com
Ganatra JB, Chandler D, Santos C, et al. Viral causes of the acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 2000;129:166–72.8.5xr0, http://www.100md.com
McCann JD, Margolis TP, Wong MG, et al. A sensitive and specific polymerase chain reaction-based assay for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis. Am J Ophthalmol 1995;120:219–26.8.5xr0, http://www.100md.com
Rozenberg F, Lebon P. Amplification and characterization of herpesvirus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with acute encephalitis. J Clin Microbiol 1991;29:2412–17.8.5xr0, http://www.100md.com
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Gozlan J, Salord JM, Roullet E, et al. Rapid detection of cytomegalovirus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid of AIDS patients with neurologic disorders. J Infect Dis 1992;166:1416–21.
Lionnet F, Pulik M, Genet P, et al. Myelitis due to varicella-zoster virus in two patients with AIDS: successful treatment with acyclovir. Clin Infect Dis 1996;22:138–40.9, http://www.100md.com
Schwartz HN, Cashwell F, Hawkins HK, et al. Necrotizing retinopathy with herpes zoster ophthalmicus : a light and electron microscopial study. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1976;100:386–91.9, http://www.100md.com
Culbertson WW, Blumenkranz MS, Pepose JS, et al. Varicella zoster virus is a cause of the acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Ophthalmology 1986;93:559–69.9, http://www.100md.com
Duker JS, Nielsen JC, Eagle RC, et al. Rapidly progressive acute retinal necrosis secondary to herpes simplex virus, type 1. Ophthalmology 1990;97:1638–43.9, http://www.100md.com
El Azazi M, Samuelsson A, Linde A, et al. Intrathecal antibody production against viruses of the herpesvirus family in acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1991;112:76–82.9, http://www.100md.com
Pepose JS, Flowers B, Stewart JA, et al. Herpesvirus antibody levels in the etiologic diagnosis of the acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1992;113:248–56.
Chung YM, Liu JH, Yeh TS. Acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Chung Hua I Hsueh Tsa Chih (Taipei) 1993;51:116–22..'?[qx, 百拇医药
Rochat C, Herbort CP. Acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Lausanne cases, review of the literature and new physiopathogenetic hypothesis. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd 1994;204:440–9..'?[qx, 百拇医药
De Boer JH, Luyendijk L, Rothova A, et al. Detection of intraocular antibody production to herpesviruses in acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1994;117:201–10..'?[qx, 百拇医药
De Boer JH, Verhagen C, Bruinenberg M, et al. Serologic and polymerase chain reaction analysis of intraocular fluids in the diagnosis of infectious uveitis. Am J Ophthalmol 1996;121:650–8..'?[qx, 百拇医药
Abe T, Tsuchida K, Tamai M. A comparative study of the polymerase chain reaction and local antibody production in acute retinal necrosis syndrome and cytomegalovirus retinitis. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 1996;234:419–24..'?[qx, 百拇医药
Garweg J, Bohnke M. Varicella-zoster virus is strongly associated with atypical necrotizing herpetic retinopathies. Clin Infect Dis 1997;24:603–8.
Ichikawa T, Sakai J, Yamauchi Y, et al. A study of 44 patients with Kirisawa type uveitis. Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi 1997;101:243–7.v/?{, 百拇医药
Itoh N, Matsumura N, Ogi A, et al. High prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 in acute retinal necrosis syndrome associated with herpes simplex virus in Japan. Am J Ophthalmol 2000;129:404–5.v/?{, 百拇医药
Nishi M, Hanashiro R, Mori S, et al. Polymerase chain reaction for the detection of the varicella-zoster genome in ocular samples from patients with acute retinal necrosis. Am J Ophthalmol 1992;114:603–9.v/?{, 百拇医药
Nogueira ML, Siqueira RC, Freitas N, et al. Detection of herpesvirus DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in vitreous samples from patients with necrotising retinitis. J Clin Pathol 2001;54:103–6.v/?{, 百拇医药
Pavesio CE, Mitchell SM, Barton K, et al. Progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) in AIDS patients: a different appearance of varicella-zoster retinitis. Eye 1995;9:271–6.v/?{, 百拇医药
Kashiwase M, Sata T, Yamauchi Y, et al. Progressive outer retinal necrosis caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Ophthalmology 2000;107:790–4.
Kramer S, Brummer C, Zierhut M. Epstein-Barr virus associated acute retinal necrosis. Br J Ophthalmol 2001;85:114.p6-|, http://www.100md.com
Knox CM, Chandler D, Short GA, et al. Polymerase chain reaction-based assays of vitreous samples for the diagnosis of viral retinitis. Use in diagnostic dilemmas. Ophthalmology 1998;105:37–44; discussion 44–5.p6-|, http://www.100md.com
Short GA, Margolis TP, Kuppermann BD, et al. A polymerase chain reaction-based assay for diagnosing varicella-zoster virus retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol 1997;123:157–64.p6-|, http://www.100md.com
Verbraak FD, Galema M, van den Horn GH, et al. Serological and polymerase chain reaction-based analysis of aqueous humour samples in patients with AIDS and necrotizing retinitis. AIDS 1996;10:1091–9.p6-|, http://www.100md.com
Baarsma GS, Luyendijk L, Kijlstra A, et al. Analysis of local antibody production in the vitreous humor of patients with severe uveitis. Am J Ophthamol 1991;117:201–10.p6-|, http://www.100md.com
Kijlstra A. The value of laboratory testing in uveitis. Eye 1990;4:732–6.
Luyendijk L, vd Horn GJ, Visser OH, et al. Detection of locally produced antibodies to herpes viruses in the aqueous of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or acute retinal necrosis syndrome (ARN). Curr Eye Res 1990;9:7–11.62&[ss, 百拇医药
Department of Ophthalmology, Pitié-Salpêtriére Hospital, Paris, France62&[ss, 百拇医药
2 Department of Virology, Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital, Paris, France62&[ss, 百拇医药
3 Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA62&[ss, 百拇医药
Accepted for publication 16 July 200262&[ss, 百拇医药
ABSTRACT62&[ss, 百拇医药
Top62&[ss, 百拇医药
ABSTRACT62&[ss, 百拇医药
PATIENTS AND METHODS62&[ss, 百拇医药
RESULTS62&[ss, 百拇医药
DISCUSSION62&[ss, 百拇医药
REFERENCES62&[ss, 百拇医药
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.'j., 百拇医药
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.'j., 百拇医药
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.
Keywords: retinal necrosis; herpesviruses; paracentesis; polymerase chain reaction*{, 百拇医药
A cute retinal necrosis syndrome is characterised by peripheral necrotising retinitis, retinal arteritis, and a prominent inflammatory reaction in the vitreous and anterior chamber of apparently immunocompetent patients.1 Progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) syndrome has been described as a similar syndrome with minimal inflammation in immunocompromised patients.2 The term necrotising herpetic retinitis refers to a spectrum of diseases induced by herpesviruses (herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)) that encompasses both acute retinal necrosis (ARN) and PORN syndromes.3*{, 百拇医药
The diagnosis of necrotising herpetic retinitis is usually based on clinical findings and confirmed by a good response to antiviral therapy. However, clinical findings are sometimes not clear enough to make a definite diagnosis, making the best and most specific therapeutic strategy uncertain. The wrong decision not only causes a delay of adapted treatment and a preventable loss of vision, but also exposes the patients to side effects of an unnecessary medication.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive and specific technique, which has been performed successfully to detect viral DNA in ocular samples from immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients presenting with viral retinitis.4–7 However, most studies have investigated the diagnostic value of PCR performed on vitreous fluid. Paracentesis to obtain aqueous humour is much easier, safer, and less invasive than taking vitreous specimens. We wished to analyse whether PCR would be sensitive enough to detect viral DNA in minimal volumes of aqueous humour, in order to reach a rapid diagnosis and apply prompt specific treatment.h[aidr, 百拇医药
PATIENTS AND METHODSh[aidr, 百拇医药
Toph[aidr, 百拇医药
ABSTRACTh[aidr, 百拇医药
PATIENTS AND METHODSh[aidr, 百拇医药
RESULTSh[aidr, 百拇医药
DISCUSSIONh[aidr, 百拇医药
REFERENCESh[aidr, 百拇医药
Twenty two patients (29 eyes) with a diagnosis of ARN or PORN syndrome were treated at the department of ophthalmology (Pitié-Salpêtriére Hospital, Paris, France) between March 1999 and June 2001. The clinical diagnosis of ARN syndrome was based on characteristic clinical criteria described by the executive committee of the American Uveitis Society: focal, well demarcated areas of retinal necrosis located in the peripheral retina; rapid, circumferential progression of necrosis; evidence of retinal vasculitis and a prominent inflammatory reaction in the vitreous and anterior chamber.5 The PORN cases were characterised by rapidly progressive, multifocal, deep retinal opacifications involving both the peripheral retina and the posterior pole. All cases showed mild intraocular inflammation. The ocular findings were virtually identical to those reported by Forster et al.2 Atypical retinal necrosis, which did not respond to antiviral therapy (intravenous foscarnet), with aqueous humour PCR positive for Toxoplasma gondii and negative for herpesviruses were excluded.
Anterior chamber tap was performed on the day of admission. Aqueous humour, 100–150 µl, was aspirated, using a 30 gauge needle passing through the limbus. Informed consent was obtained from all patients.ep, 百拇医药
Aqueous samples from 22 eyes of 22 patients with ARN or PORN syndrome were analysed for the presence of herpesviruses by PCR.8,9 As controls, 10 aqueous samples from patients with clinical features of an active uveitis were analysed. This group included toxoplasma uveitis (n = 6), primary intraocular lymphoma (n = 2), syphilis retinitis (n = 1), and sarcoidosis (n = 1).ep, 百拇医药
PCRep, 百拇医药
Aqueous humour, 10–20 µl, were used for each PCR reaction. DNA was either phenol chloroform extracted using classic procedures or simply treated by boiling and ethanol precipitating the samples. A single PCR for HSV-1, HSV-2, and EBV was performed as previously described.8 Amplified products were visualised on ethidium stained agarose gels, then characterised with reference to their specific migration pattern before and after digestion with restriction enzymes SmaI and BamHI. The sensitivity of this technique was evaluated at 5 x 102 genome equivalents (GEq)/ml for HSV-1, and 2 x 103 GEq/ml for HSV-2 by a European quality control HSV test panel. Specific CMV and VZV PCR assays were performed using slightly modified published procedures while preserving the described sensitivities.9–11 Using the same technique, 2–20 copies of EBV DNA could be detected, as previously described. The sensitivity of the published CMV and VZV PCR tests was evaluated by serial dilution of infected cell culture supernatants, and reached 10-6 for VZV and 10-5 for CMV. Amplification products were detected on agarose gels, and their specificity was confirmed by hybridisation with digoxigenin labelled specific oligonucleotide probes.
RESULTSm]6, 百拇医药
Topm]6, 百拇医药
ABSTRACTm]6, 百拇医药
PATIENTS AND METHODSm]6, 百拇医药
RESULTSm]6, 百拇医药
DISCUSSIONm]6, 百拇医药
REFERENCESm]6, 百拇医药
An ARN syndrome was confirmed in 19 patients (23 eyes) according to criteria of the American Uveitis Society (Table 1).1 Mean age was 44.1 years. Ten patients were men and nine were women. One patient was HIV positive with a CD4+ count of 170 cells x 6/l (Fig 1, top left). One patient had a history of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was in remission following chemotherapy. Two patients had chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Two patients were treated with immunosuppressive drugs and corticosteroids for kidney transplant and pulmonary fibrosis. Three patients had a previous history of ARN syndrome and were referred either for involvement of the fellow eye or for relapse of retinitis in the same eye. A previous history of herpes zoster was noted in three patients and of neonatal herpes simplex infection in one patient. The interval between onset of disease and admission to the department of ophthalmology was between 1 day and 1 week in six patients, between 1 week and 1 month in eight patients and was more than 1 month in five patients. Four patients had received antiviral therapy before the anterior chamber tap.
fig.ommitteed2}[{, http://www.100md.com
Table 1 Summary of clinical features of 22 patients with viral retinitis who underwent anterior chamber tap for aqueous humour PCR annalysis for the detection of herpesviruses2}[{, http://www.100md.com
fig.ommitteed2}[{, http://www.100md.com
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.2}[{, http://www.100md.com
PORN was diagnosed in three male patients (six eyes). Mean age was 39.6 years. Two patients were HIV positive and one was HIV negative. The CD4+ counts ranged from 4–13 cells/µl in HIV positive patients. In this group of patients, aqueous humour samples were obtained within 1 week after onset of symptoms.2}[{, http://www.100md.com
PCR for detection of viral DNA from aqueous samples was performed in all 22 patients (aqueous humour samples, n = 24) (Table 2). The reaction was positive in 19/22 patients (86.4%). Two patients (Nos 6 and 21) underwent two successive anterior chamber paracentesis in the same eye because of a negative result following the first procedure. PCR performed on the second sample, which was taken 1 week later, proved positive (while these patients were taking intravenous foscarnet). No complication from anterior chamber paracentesis was noted. In patient 17, PCR was negative but anti-EBV IgM were detected in the serum and IgG titres significantly increased in serum obtained 4 weeks later. In this patient, anti-EBNA IgG were absent, suggesting recent EBV infection. Aqueous specimens were negative in two patients (Nos 12 and 13) who had received 2 and 10 days, respectively, of intravenous aciclovir therapy before the anterior chamber tap.
fig.ommitteed0k\/8{], 百拇医药
Table 2 Results of PCR analysis performed on aqueous humour0k\/8{], 百拇医药
In the ARN syndrome group (n = 19), PCR detected HSV-1 in two cases, HSV-2 in four cases, VZV in six cases, CMV in four cases, and no viral DNA was found in three cases. In the PRN syndrome group (n = 3), VZV was detected in all cases. No viral DNA was detected in any aqueous sample from the control group patients.0k\/8{], 百拇医药
DISCUSSION0k\/8{], 百拇医药
Top0k\/8{], 百拇医药
ABSTRACT0k\/8{], 百拇医药
PATIENTS AND METHODS0k\/8{], 百拇医药
RESULTS0k\/8{], 百拇医药
DISCUSSION0k\/8{], 百拇医药
REFERENCES0k\/8{], 百拇医药
The viral cause of ARN syndrome has been determined by previous studies using a variety of diagnostic techniques: electron microscopy,12 immunocytochemistry,13 viral culture from intraocular specimens,13,14 serological analysis of serum and/or intraocular fluid,15–21 and, more recently, by PCR. 6,20–25 These studies showed that most cases of ARN syndrome are caused by VZV, HSV-1, and HSV-2, and rarely by CMV. The PORN syndrome was first reported by Forster in 1990.2 A member of the herpesvirus family was first suspected as a causative agent by electron microscopy.2 Since then, VZV has been detected by PCR in most cases,26,27 although HSV-1 has recently been reported as a cause.28
In a study by Ganatra et al6 who used PCR from vitreous and aqueous samples to detect viral DNA in 28 patients with ARN syndrome, VZV was detected in 13 cases (46%), HSV-1 in seven cases (25%), HSV-2 in six cases (21.4%), and CMV in one case (3.6%). Mean age was 57.2 years in the VZV group, 44.2 in the HSV-1 group, 26.8 in the HSV-2 group. In Japan, Ichikawa et al23 determined the viral cause of Kirisawa uveitis in a series of 44 patients (50 eyes) using IgG titres and/or PCR. They found that VZV was the pathogenic organism in 37 eyes (70%) of 31 patients and HSV in 13 eyes (30%) of 13 patients. Mean age was 47.9 years in the VZV group and 34.4 in the HSV group. HSV-2 seems also to have a high prevalence in ARN syndrome associated with HSV in Japan.24sq4:g4?, http://www.100md.com
In our study of 19 patients with ARN, VZV was found in six cases (31.6%), HSV-1 in two cases (10.5%), HSV-2 in four cases (21%), CMV in four cases (21%), and EBV was highly suspected in one case (5.2%). Mean age was 47.3 years in the VZV group, 46.2 in the HSV group, and 52.8 years in the CMV group. The high prevalence of HSV in the ARN syndrome was thus more like that reported by Ganatra et al, than that reported by Ichikawa et al. There were also more cases of CMV in this group. In addition, patients were older and all immunodeficient: three were treated with immunosuppressive drugs and one was HIV positive. However, our series requires more cases to determine a possible association between the patient’s age and virus type.
Patient 17 was a 13 year old girl presenting with a mild form of ARN syndrome concomitant with EBV primary infection. Recently, one case of ARN has been reported in an HIV negative homosexual man with increased titres of anti-EBV-IgG, anti-EBV nuclear and early antigens who suffered from EBV infection and pericarditis 15 years earlier. In this case, however, PCR of intraocular fluid was not performed.29 EBV should thus be considered as a potential cause of ARN syndrome and sought by serological and/or PCR analysis.1, 百拇医药
In our patients with PORN syndrome, VZV was detected in all cases. This result was similar to others studies.22,271, 百拇医药
Patients 18 and 19 (Fig 1, top right) had received aciclovir therapy before anterior chamber tap, which may explain negative PCR results. Indeed, antiviral therapy may decrease viral replication below the threshold of PCR sensitivity.7,8 Although no viral DNA was detected, the final diagnosis of herpesvirus retinitis was most likely, since the disease resolved after foscarnet treatment with good final visual acuity. In contrast, for patients 6 and 21, PCR performed on the first aqueous sample was negative but became positive on a second sample obtained 1 week later, although these patients were both treated with intravenous foscarnet. These results suggest that antiviral therapy for a week does not prevent detection of viral DNA by PCR in aqueous humour. Previous studies showed that in spite of antiviral treatment, PCR from ocular specimens of AIDS patients with CMV retinitis were positive.5,7,21 Interestingly, similar findings were observed in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with herpes simplex encephalitis. In this group of patients, HSV-DNA was detected in half of cases during the second week of the disease.8
Previous studies that have analysed the viral cause of necrotising herpetic retinitis by PCR used only vitreous samples,30,31 aqueous, and/or vitreous samples.6,20–22,25 To our knowledge, this study is the largest monocentric case series of necrotising herpetic retinitis in Europe with a viral cause as determined by PCR of aqueous humour within a short (3 year) period.s&f, 百拇医药
Although the diagnosis of necrotising retinitis is based on clinical findings, the presentation is in some cases not clear enough and early viral DNA detection by PCR may be helpful in such cases. The results of this study are encouraging, since they indicate that amplification of DNA in aqueous humour is sensitive enough to become an appropriate method for detecting the causative agent of necrotising herpetic retinitis. Anterior chamber paracentesis is preferable to pars plana vitreous biopsy in many cases, since it is easier and more convenient to perform in an emergency. Side effects of anterior chamber taps are rare (hyphaema, cataract secondary to perforation of the lens capsule), and no complication was observed after paracentesis in this study or in previous reports.20,22,32–35 Advances in DNA extraction procedures and PCR techniques have contributed to reducing the time waiting for results, which can be available within 24–48 hours. The benefit of a reliable result leading to a rapid diagnosis and accurate treatment outweighs theoretical risks. However, aqueous samples may contain less viral DNA than vitreous for PCR amplification. An initial negative result should lead to repeated paracentesis, especially in patients who are on antiviral therapy for a presumptive diagnosis of viral retinitis.
Although clinical features observed in ARN patients may be highly suggestive of a herpesvirus aetiology, they do not allow differentiating HSV from VZV caused cases. Ichikawa et al23 reported 44 cases of Kirisawa-type uveitis (KU) and found that the VZV group included a significantly greater number of severe and serious cases than the HSV group. Only 32% of VZV-KU and 67% of HSV-KU eyes had a final visual acuity of greater than 0.5. This report suggests that VZV induced ARN syndrome may be more severe than HSV induced ARN syndrome and may require intensive antiviral therapy.1g2];, http://www.100md.com
In summary, our results indicate that reliable identification of the pathogenic agent was possible by PCR analysis of aqueous samples in 86.4% of cases with necrotising retinitis. Moreover, early use of such highly sensitive and specific PCR based assays may not only contribute to the diagnosis, but also to the management of patients with necrotising herpetic retinitis.1g2];, http://www.100md.com
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