title: [Detection of varicella-zoster virus DNA by polymerase chain reaction in patients with Hunt syndrome and clinical progression].
abstract: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is known to be associated with Hunt syndrome. In this study, the detection of VZV-DNA in peripheral blood, throat swabs, urine and crusts was performed, in 6 cases of Hunt syndrome, by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. For DNA-extraction, glass-powder was used. As a primer, an oligonucleotide, which specifically amplifies 1201-1424 in the Sst-Ig region, was used. Amplification was performed by repeating 30 cycles of the following procedures: denaturing at 94 degrees C, annealing at 60 degrees C, and extension at 72 degrees C. In one case, VZV-DNA was detected in all samples, in another case it was detected in a throat swab, urine and crust, and in another case in peripheral blood, urine and crust. The other 3 cases showed VZV-DNA only in crusts. These results indicate that viremia might occur in Hunt syndrome, and that those patients in whom VZV-DNA was detected in peripheral blood and urine showed a tendency for slow recovery. The present results indicate that this method provides a valuable tool for the early diagnosis of Hunt syndrome and zoster sine herpes and that it is useful for predicting the progression of Hunt syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Osaka University, School of Medicine.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bessho
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D016697:Herpes Zoster Oticus / Q000382:microbiology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral