[Molecular detection of herpes simplex virus by polymerase chain reaction in patients with typical and atypical herpetic keratitis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate patients with clinically typical and atypical herpetic keratitis (HK) by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as compared with the clinical diagnosis.


METHODS
PCR in 28 patients with clinical symptoms of typical and atypical HK was performed.


RESULTS
PCR was positive in 57.14% (n=16) of the total cases (n=28). The test was positive in 60.0% (n=12) of the 20 typical HK cases. For epithelial HK, the test was positive in 69.23% (n=9), and 77.78% (n=7) only for dendritic injuries. Atypical HK presented a positive test in 50% (n=4) of eight cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical typical picture of HK had a good correlation with the positive result of PCR, mainly for epithelial injury of the dendritic type. However, 50% of the patients with atypical HK presented positive PCR. This result showed that PCR test can provide an effective HK diagnosis. In the stromal case of HK, PCR was a useful technique to identify HSV virus.
Kamimura
Afonso
A
Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (SP) - Brasil. afonsomed36@yahoo.com.br
Takata
Magali Ineko
MI
Fernandes
Ana Carolina Moraes
AC
Neves
João Paulo
JP
Viegas
Marco Túlio Chater
MT
Murata
Valquise Yumi
VY
Nogueira
Maurício Lacerda
ML
Almeida Júnior
Gildásio Castello de
GC
D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D004279:DNA, Viral