The relationship of graft survival and herpes simplex virus latency in recipient corneal buttons

• Main Authors: Orhan Aydemir, Peykan Türkçüoglu, Yasemin Bulut, Ahmet Kalkan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2007-10-01
• Series: Clinical Ophthalmology
• Online Access: http://www.dovepress.com/the-relationship-of-graft-survival-and-herpes-simplex-virus-latency-in-a278

Orhan Aydemir1, Peykan Türkçüoglu1, Yasemin Bulut2, Ahmet Kalkan31Firat University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Elazig, Turkey; 2Firat University School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Elazig, Turkey; 3Firat University School of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Elazig, TurkeyPurpose: To demonstrate relationship between herpes simplex virus (HSV) corneal latency and graft survival.Methods: Prospective case control study. 28 recipient corneal buttons and donor cornea-scleral remnants were examined for HSV DNA with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). None of the recipient had a history of HSV infection. Serum samples of graft recipients were analyzed for the presence of anti-HSV IgG and IgM with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. All corneas were free of stromal scarring or epithelial defect before sampling and had an endothelial cell density of >2000 cells/mm2.Results: In twenty three patients (82%) anti-HSV IgG was detected in serum. In none of the recipients anti-HSV IgM was positive. HSV DNA was positive in six out of twenty eight (21%) of the recipient corneal buttons and none of the donor cornea-scleral remnants. In eighteen months follow-up period three out of six (50%) HSV DNA positive and one out of twenty-two (4.5%) HSV DNA negative patients experienced late endothelial failure that was statistically significantly different (p = 0.022). Conclusion: Even without a history of HSV keratitis, presence of latent HSV virus in recipient cornea is an important risk factor for subsequent graft survival.Keywords: herpes simplex virus, polymerase chain reaction, corneal latency, corneal graft survival