Herpetic Anterior Uveitis in a Chinese Referral Center: Clinical Manifestations and Laboratory Test Results

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To describe and to compare the clinical manifestation and laboratory test results of herpetic anterior uveitis (HAU) caused by Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV).

Methods

A retrospective, observational study on patients diagnosed with HAU. Etiology, clinical features, ocular complications, and recurrences of the infection were evaluated as main clinical parameters. The aqueous Interleukin-8 (IL-8) level was also measured to assess the intraocular inflammation.

Results

Thirty-two eyes (32 patients) were involved. Among all involved cases, 24 had VZV-AU and 8 had HSV-AU. Common clinical features of HAU included the presence of KPs (90.6%), distorted pupil (83.3%), Iris atrophy (71.9%) and corneal edema (50%). The intraocular fluid analysis showed higher viral load and IL-8 level in VZV-AU.

Conclusions

Compared with HSV-AU, the intraocular inflammation was more severe in VZV-AU. The intraocular fluid analysis was valuable for the etiological diagnosis and the evaluation of disease severity.

Keywords:

• Herpes simplex virus
• herpetic anterior uveitis
• interleukin-8
• intraocular inflammation
• varicella-zoster virus

Declaration Of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Beijing Chaoyang 1351 talent training program (No. CYXX-2017-21), the Science Research Foundation of Aier Eye Hospital Group (No. 201 AFM1701D3) and the Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province (No. 7SK50901). These funding bodies play no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.