Polymerase Chain Reaction and Goldmann-Witmer Coefficient to Examine the Role of Epstein-Barr Virus in Uveitis

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Goldmann-Witmer Coefficient (GWC) calculation to search for evidence that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes uveitis.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study where participants with positive multiplex EBV PCR results were further investigated by: 1) real-time PCR for EBV viral loads (VL) and 2) EBV GWC.

Results: Eleven of 106 consecutive uveitis patients (10.4%) had positive multiplex PCR for EBV on aqueous humor sampling and 7/11 (63.6%) were HIV-positive. Only 4/10 (40%) cases had detectable intraocular EBV VLs which were always lower than the blood or plasma VL. EBV GWC was negative in all 10 cases tested. In 9/11 (81.8%) of these cases an alternative, more plausible cause of uveitis was identified.

Conclusion: We found no evidence of active intraocular replication or antibody production to prove that EBV caused uveitis in these cases. In most cases an alternative treatable cause of uveitis was identified.

Keywords:

• Epstein-Barr virus
• Goldmann-Witmer coefficient
• PCR
• Polymerase chain reaction
• Uveitis

This article is referred to by:

In Response to: Smit D, Meyer D, Maritz J, et al. “Polymerase Chain Reaction and Goldmann-Witmer Coefficient to Examine the Role of Epstein-Barr Virus in Uveitis”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank Fokko Meindertsma for excellent technical assistance at University Medical Center Utrecht.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

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