Cytomegalovirus-associated acute retinal necrosis syndrome.
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.
Silverstein
B E
BE
Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California at San Francisco Medical Center 94143-0944, USA.
Conrad
D
D
Margolis
T P
TP
Wong
I G
IG
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*
D004279:DNA, Viral