Polymerase chain reaction detection of herpes simplex virus in tear fluid from atypical herpetic epithelial keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the efficacy of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in diagnosing atypical epithelial keratitis after a penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) for herpetic corneal scarring.


METHODS
We examined three eyes of three patients with keratitis after a PKP for herpetic corneal scarring. The clinical presentation of the keratitis was atypical. DNA extracted from the tears was subjected to PCR and Southern blot hybridization.


RESULTS
Herpes simplex virus DNA was identified in all cases of presumptive recurrent herpetic keratitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Polymerase chain reaction is rapid and effective for diagnosing atypical recurrent herpetic keratitis.
Tei
M
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Nishida
K
K
Kinoshita
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013666:Tears / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral