Atopic disease and herpes simplex eye disease: a population-based case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether atopy is associated with herpes simplex virus (HSV) ocular disease.


METHODS
Retrospective, population-based, case-control study.


METHODS



METHODS
Large, regional health maintenance organization (Northern California Kaiser Permanente).


METHODS
1,042,351 people over a one-year period.


METHODS
Electronic database search for HSV ocular disease and subsequent chart review determined study eligibility. Two age-matched control groups (one population-based and one clinic-based) were randomly chosen. Medical record review determined the presence of atopy. Severe atopic disease was defined by diagnostic code or illness requiring an emergency room visit, hospitalization, or treatment with a systemic corticosteroid.


METHODS
Presence of HSV eye disease, presence of atopy, and characterization of atopy severity.


RESULTS
HSV eye disease was found in 172 patients. HSV cases had a greater prevalence of atopy (34%, 58/172) than the clinic-based (25%, 43/172) or the population-based controls (21%, 36/172, odds ratio (OR) 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9 to 2.6 and OR 1.9, 95%, CI 1.1 to 3.3, respectively). The association of HSV ocular disease with severe atopy was even greater, with a history of severe atopic disease in 13% (22/172) of patients with HSV ocular disease as compared with 6% (11/172) of patients in the clinic control group and 3% (5/172) of patients in the population control group (OR 2.0, 95% CI 0.7 to 5.9 and OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.6 to 19.2, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with HSV ocular disease are more likely to have a history of atopic disease, especially severe atopic disease, than age-matched controls.
Prabriputaloong
Tisha
T
Department Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Margolis
Todd P
TP
Lietman
Thomas M
TM
Wong
Ira G
IG
Mather
Rookaya
R
Gritz
David C
DC
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D044382:Population Groups; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors