The Usefulness of Aqueous Fluid Analysis for Epstein–Barr Virus in Patients with Uveitis

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To determine characteristics of patients with laboratory findings indicative of intraocular Epstein–Barr-virus (EBV) infection and to establish the usefulness of the laboratory analysis in patients with uveitis.

Methods: Retrospective study of patients who underwent diagnostic aqueous fluid analysis. Diverse demographic data of patients were registered.

Results: EBV-PCR tested positive in 3/201 (1%) and EBV-GWC in 22/245 (9%). The prevalence of immunosuppression was similar in EBV positive (by PCR/GWC) and EBV negative patients (7/25; 28% vs. 50/272;18%, P = 0.29). Out of all 22 EBV-GWC positive patients, GWC was between 3 and 10 in 91%. In total, 14 patients had laboratory results indicating only EBV infection. Patients without an alternative explanation for uveitis (6/14; 43%) had a chronic recurrent course and good visual prognosis.

Conclusion: Low EBV-GWC values combined with multiple positive GWC and/or PCR for other infectious agents. Intraocular assessment for EBV in the initial examination of uveitis patients has limited value.

Keywords:

• Aqueous fluid analysis
• clinical picture
• Epstein–Barr virus
• uveitis
• visual prognosis

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.

Conflict of interest

This study was financially supported by AbbVie, the Netherlands. The sponsor had no role in study design, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data or in the writing of the report, and in the decision to submit the article for publication.