title: Aqueous humor polymerase chain reaction in uveitis - utility and safety.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To study the value and safety of aqueous humor polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for Herpes simplex, varicella zoster, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and Toxoplasma gondii in patients with uveitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of 45 consecutive patients with anterior and posterior uveitis who underwent AC paracentesis with PCR were reviewed. The main outcome measure was frequency of PCR positivity. Secondary outcomes were alteration of treatment, safety of paracentesis, and correlation of keratitic precipitates with PCR positivity, RESULTS: The overall PCR positivity was 48.9 % (22/45). Therapy was changed because of the PCR results in 14/45 patients (37.7 %). One patient experienced a paracentesis related complication (1/45, 2.2 %) without long-term sequelae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aqueous PCR altered the diagnosis and treatment in over a third of our patients and was relatively safe. Aqueous PCR should be considered for uveitis of atypical clinical appearance, recurrent severe uveitis of uncertain etiology, and therapy refractory cases.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals and School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland. argyrios.chronopoulos@hcuge.ch.
authors: Argyrios
authors: A
authors: Chronopoulos
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals and School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Roquelaure
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals and School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Georges
authors: G
authors: Souteyrand
authors: Division of Immunology and Allergy, University Hospitals and School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Jörg Dieter
authors: JD
authors: Seebach
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals and School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: James Scott
authors: JS
authors: Schutz
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals and School of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Thumann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000821:virology*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anterior chamber paracentesis; Anterior uveitis; Polymerase chain reaction (PCR); Posterior uveitis; Uveitis