title: Cytomegalovirus-associated acute retinal necrosis syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a case of acute retinal necrosis syndrome in which a polymerase chain reaction-based assay provided evidence for cytomegalovirus as the causative agent of the syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Polymerase chain reaction-based assays were used to analyze a vitreous aspirate from a 70-year-old man with acute retinal necrosis syndrome. The specimen was tested for cytomegalovirus, varicella-zoster virus, and herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The polymerase chain reaction assay for cytomegalovirus was positive, and polymerase chain reaction assays for varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 were negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytomegalovirus may be a causative agent of acute retinal necrosis syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California at San Francisco Medical Center 94143-0944, USA.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Silverstein
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Conrad
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015882:Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral