title: Herpes simplex virus and pterygium in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the presence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in pterygia to study the possible association between HSV and pterygia in Taiwan, a tropical country with a high prevalence of pterygium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five pterygia, 10 normal conjunctiva, 8 conjunctival nevi, and 2 malignant conjunctival melanomas were obtained. Clinical histories were recorded for each patient. HSV detection was accomplished by polymerase chain reaction amplification of viral sequences. HSV-positive specimens underwent subsequent DNA in situ hybridization. Results were statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By using polymerase chain reaction, HSV was detected in 3 (5%) pterygia, and no conjunctival control displayed HSV. All 3 HSV-positive pterygia studies were DNA in situ hybridization negative. There was no statistically significant correlation between pterygium and the presence of HSV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HSV is not associated with pterygium formation in Taiwan; the pathogenesis of pterygia is still incompletely understood.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taipei, Taiwan. a10429@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors: Yeong-Fong
authors: YF
authors: Chen
authors: Ching-Hsi
authors: CH
authors: Hsiao
authors: Kah-Wai
authors: KW
authors: Ngan
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Yeung
authors: Hsin-Yuan
authors: HY
authors: Tan
authors: Kai-Hsiang
authors: KH
authors: Yang
authors: Samuel Chao-Ming
authors: SC
authors: Huang
authors: Ken-Kuo
authors: KK
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011625:Pterygium / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral