Isolation of the human T-cell leukemia/lymphotropic virus type III from aqueous humor in two patients with perivasculitis of the retinal vessels.
The human T-cell leukemia/lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) has been isolated from aqueous humor in two patients with perivasculitis of the peripheral retinal vessels, an AIDS-related ocular manifestation. Both patients had antibodies to HTLV-III and although they presented with herpes zoster ophthalmicus, they did not present other symptoms known to be associated with HTLV-III infection. The isolation of HTLV-III from aqueous humor in these two patients with retinal perivasculitis suggests that the virus itself may play a role in the etiology of this ocular sign. The presence of infectious HTLV-III in the anterior chamber further emphasises the necessity to discard corneas from HTLV-III infected donors.
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000382:microbiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006563:Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012171:Retinal Vessels; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000209:etiology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase