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Disciform keratitis: a case of herpes zoster sine herpete
B E Silverstein1, D Chandler, R Neger
1Francis I. Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco Medical Center 94143-0944, USA.
Purpose:
To describe a case of disciform keratitis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in which varicella-zoster virus was the causative agent.
Method:
Case report, Polymerase chain reaction-based assays for varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus were used to analyze an aqueous aspirate.
Results:
We examined a 41-year-old man with AIDS but without a history of varicella-zoster virus dermatitis who had disciform corneal edema in his left eye. Varicella-zoster virus was detected by a polymerase chain reaction-based assay in the aqueous of the left eye; however, neither cytomegalovirus nor herpes simplex virus DNA were detected by polymerase chain reaction-based assays. The corneal edema slowly resolved while the patient was treated with famciclovir.
Conclusion:
Varicella-zoster virus may cause disciform keratitis without a preceding skin eruption.