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Seropositivity of human herpesvirus-8 in patients with uveitis
Toshihiko Matsuo1, Masako Itami
1Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama City 700-8558, Japan. matsuot@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp
Purpose:
To explore the role of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) in the pathogenesis of uveitis and other forms of ocular inflammation.
Methods:
Serum antibody titers to HHV-8 were measured in 76 patients with uveitis from various causes and other types of ocular inflammation in either the acute phase, the convalescent phase, or both.
Results:
Only one 21-year-old male patient in the convalescent phase of unilateral pars planitis showed a positive titer for HHV-8. His serum was negative for human immunodeficiency virus-1.
Conclusions:
Although the seropositive rate in the patient population was higher than that in the general population, the increased incidence was not statistically significant. The role of HHV-8 in the pathogenesis of intraocular inflammation appears to be limited.