Infection of the corneal endothelium in herpes simplex keratitis.
OBJECTIVE
To describe viral infection of the corneal endothelium in a patient with recurrent herpes simplex virus keratitis in the corneal graft.


METHODS
Case report. A healthy 28-year-old man presented with necrotizing stromal keratitis and corneal perforation in the corneal graft. A second penetrating keratoplasty was performed. The corneal button was processed for histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic studies.


RESULTS
Histopathologically, the corneal endothelium showed viral inclusion bodies. Herpes simplex virus antigens and viral particles were identified in stromal keratocytes and corneal endothelial cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Productive herpes simplex virus infection of the corneal endothelial cells may contribute to corneal graft failure in recurrent herpes simplex virus infections.
Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany. Leonard.Holbach@augen.med.uni-erlangen.de
L M
LM
Holbach
N
N
Asano
G O
GO
Naumann
D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007181:Inclusion Bodies, Viral / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation
D000956:Antigens, Viral