TY - JOUR
T1 - A sensitive and specific polymerase chain reaction-based assay for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis
AU - McCann, J. D.
AU - Margolis, T. P.
AU - Wong, M. G.
AU - Kuppermann, B. D.
AU - Luckie, A. P.
AU - Schwartz, D. M.
AU - Irvine, A. R.
AU - Ai, E.
N1 - Funding Information:
From the Francis 1. Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology (Drs. McCann and Margolis and Ms. Wong), and Department of Ophthalmology (Drs. Margolis, Schwartz, and Irvine), University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, California (Dr. Kuppermann); and Department of Ophthalmology, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California (Drs. Luckie and Ai). This study was supported in part by grants from American Foundation for AIDS Research, New York, New York, University-wide AIDS Research Program, Oakland, California, and by a Research to Prevent Blindness Career Development Award, Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., New York, New York (Dr. Margolis). Reprint requests to Todd Margolis, M.D., Ph.D., Francis I. Proctor Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, 95 Kirkham St., Box 0944, San Francisco, CA 94122-0944; fax: (415) 502-2521.
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - PURPOSE: To develop a sensitive and specific laboratory assay for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis. METHOD: We used a polymerase chain reaction-based assay for detection of cytomegalovirus DNA in vitreous samples. We attempted to detect cytomegalovirus DNA in 19 vitreous samples from patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who had untreated cytomegalovirus retinitis and in 40 vitreous samples from patients with AIDS who had been treated with systemic ganciclovir or foscarnet, or both. We also attempted to detect cytomegalovirus DNA in vitreous samples from 54 immunocompetent patients, including 32 with retinal detachment or macular hole, 11 with vitreous inflammation, and 11 with vitreous hemorrhage. Additionally, we attempted to detect cytomegalovirus DNA in 15 vitreous samples from patients with AIDS who had vitreoretinal inflammation not caused by cytomegalovirus. RESULTS: Cytomegalovirus DNA was detected in 18 of 19 eyes with untreated cytomegalovirus retinitis. We detected cytomegalovirus DNA in 19 of 40 vitreous samples from patients with previously treated cytomegalovirus retinitis. Cytomegalovirus DNA was not detected in any of 69 patients who did not have a clinical diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis. Thus, the assay had an estimated sensitivity of 95% in detecting untreated cytomegalovirus retinitis and a sensitivity of 48% in detecting cytomegalovirus retinitis that had been treated with systemic ganciclovir or foscarnet, or both. The assay did not give false-positive results in patients with vitreous hemorrhage or vitreous inflammation. Most important, the assay did not give false-positive results in AIDS patients with vitreous inflammation from causes other than cytomegalovirus retinitis. CONCLUSION: We have developed a sensitive and specific diagnostic assay that will assist in the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis.
AB - PURPOSE: To develop a sensitive and specific laboratory assay for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis. METHOD: We used a polymerase chain reaction-based assay for detection of cytomegalovirus DNA in vitreous samples. We attempted to detect cytomegalovirus DNA in 19 vitreous samples from patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who had untreated cytomegalovirus retinitis and in 40 vitreous samples from patients with AIDS who had been treated with systemic ganciclovir or foscarnet, or both. We also attempted to detect cytomegalovirus DNA in vitreous samples from 54 immunocompetent patients, including 32 with retinal detachment or macular hole, 11 with vitreous inflammation, and 11 with vitreous hemorrhage. Additionally, we attempted to detect cytomegalovirus DNA in 15 vitreous samples from patients with AIDS who had vitreoretinal inflammation not caused by cytomegalovirus. RESULTS: Cytomegalovirus DNA was detected in 18 of 19 eyes with untreated cytomegalovirus retinitis. We detected cytomegalovirus DNA in 19 of 40 vitreous samples from patients with previously treated cytomegalovirus retinitis. Cytomegalovirus DNA was not detected in any of 69 patients who did not have a clinical diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis. Thus, the assay had an estimated sensitivity of 95% in detecting untreated cytomegalovirus retinitis and a sensitivity of 48% in detecting cytomegalovirus retinitis that had been treated with systemic ganciclovir or foscarnet, or both. The assay did not give false-positive results in patients with vitreous hemorrhage or vitreous inflammation. Most important, the assay did not give false-positive results in AIDS patients with vitreous inflammation from causes other than cytomegalovirus retinitis. CONCLUSION: We have developed a sensitive and specific diagnostic assay that will assist in the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029087479&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0002-9394(14)72610-8
DO - 10.1016/S0002-9394(14)72610-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 7639306
AN - SCOPUS:0029087479
SN - 0002-9394
VL - 120
SP - 219
EP - 226
JO - American journal of ophthalmology
JF - American journal of ophthalmology
IS - 2
ER -