title: Polymerase chain reaction to search for Herpes viruses in uveitic and healthy eyes: a South African perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse aqueous polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results in patients diagnosed with undifferentiated uveitis and determine prevalence of herpesviridae in non-uveitic patients undergoing routine cataract extraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective comparative case series and prospective cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  72 patients with idiopathic uveitis and 57 surgical patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnostic aqueous paracentesis with PCR testing for 6 herpes viridae in uveitic patients. Anterior chamber paracentesis immediately pre-operative in the prospective arm, with PCR testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the retrospective review we had a 47.2% positive PCR yield. Data analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between a positive yield and being HIV+ (p=0.018); between an EBV+ yield and being HIV+ (p= 0.026) and a CMV+ result and being HIV+ (p=0.032). Posterior uveitis (p=0.014) and symptoms <30 days (p= 0.0014) had a statistically significant yield. In the prospective arm of the study: all 57 patients were HIV- and all aqueous samples were negative for the 6 herpesviridae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend PCR testing for Herpesviridae as a safe second line test for patients with undifferentiated uveitis. We were unable to establish prevalence and suggest that the idea of a commensal herpes virus is unlikely if the blood-ocular barrier is intact.
authors.affiliation: Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laaks
authors.affiliation: Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Derrick P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.affiliation: Center for Statistical Consultation, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019152:Paracentesis / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral
keywords: Herpes viruses; Polymerase chain reaction; South Africa; healthy eyes; uveitis