title: Polymerase chain reaction for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in epiretinal membrane in Eales' disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tuberculous etiology has been suggested in Eales' disease. Because epiretinal membrane (ERM) is formed on the inner surface of the retina in Eales' disease, it could be the most appropriate intraocular specimen for investigation. Therefore, a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR), which detects MPB64 gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on the archival specimens of ERM of well-documented Eales' and non-Eales' patients, was applied and the results compared.
  
  
  METHODS
  nPCR technique was standardized, and the sensitivity and specificity of the primers were determined. nPCR technique was applied to tissue sections obtained from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues of ERM from 23 patients with Eales' disease and 27 noninfective and non-Eales' disease patients as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  nPCR technique was specific for M. tuberculosis genome and sensitive enough to detect 0.25 fg (corresponding to the presence of a single bacillus). Eleven (47.8%) ERM of 23 Eales' disease and 3 (11.1%) of 27 controls were positive for M. tuberculosis genome. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.001), indicating association of this bacterium with Eales' disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The demonstration of the presence of M. tuberculosis DNA by nPCR technique in significant number of ERM of Eales' disease compared with the controls further emphasizes the probable role of this bacterium in the pathogenesis of this enigmatic clinical condition.
authors.affiliation: Vision Research Foundation, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India. mdsaaa35@giasmd01-vsnl.net.in
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Madhavan
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Therese
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gunisha
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jayanthi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biswas
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics*; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000382:microbiology; D012169:Retinal Vein; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014392:Tuberculosis, Ocular / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C080865:MPB64 protein, Mycobacterium