Seropositivity of human herpesvirus-8 in patients with uveitis.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the role of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) in the pathogenesis of uveitis and other forms of ocular inflammation.


METHODS
Serum antibody titers to HHV-8 were measured in 76 patients with uveitis from various causes and other types of ocular inflammation in either the acute phase, the convalescent phase, or both.


RESULTS
Only one 21-year-old male patient in the convalescent phase of unilateral pars planitis showed a positive titer for HHV-8. His serum was negative for human immunodeficiency virus-1.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the seropositive rate in the patient population was higher than that in the general population, the increased incidence was not statistically significant. The role of HHV-8 in the pathogenesis of intraocular inflammation appears to be limited.
Matsuo
Toshihiko
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama City 700-8558, Japan. matsuot@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp
Itami
Masako
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014605:Uveitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral