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Excimer Laser Photokeratectomy Reactivates Latent Herpes Simplex Virus

  • CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

It has been reported that excimer laser irradiation might elicit herpes simplex virus (HSV) genome activation. We describe a clinical case in which HSV DNA sequences were detected quantitatively after phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK).

Case

A 90-year-old woman underwent excimer laser photokeratectomy for bilateral band-shaped keratopathy. Tear film was collected from both eyes using a Schirmer’s strip before and 3 and 7 days after phototherapeutic keratectomy.

Observations

HSV-DNA was quantified by a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. HSV-DNA was detected only on the third day postoperatively in both eyes. The amount of viral DNA was 2.0 × 105 (OD) and 1.3 × 105 (OS) copies/sample, respectively.

Conclusions

Excimer laser photokeratectomy stimulated viral shedding in the tear film. Ophthalmologists should be aware that laser irradiation can reactivate latent HSV. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2004;48:570–572 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2004

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan

    Tatsunori Deai, Masahiko Fukuda, Yumiko Tomoda, Shiro Higaki & Yoshikazu Shimomura

  2. National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Kozaburo Hayashi

Authors
  1. Tatsunori Deai
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  2. Masahiko Fukuda
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  3. Yumiko Tomoda
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  4. Shiro Higaki
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  5. Kozaburo Hayashi
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  6. Yoshikazu Shimomura
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tatsunori Deai.

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Cite this article

Deai, T., Fukuda, M., Tomoda, Y. et al. Excimer Laser Photokeratectomy Reactivates Latent Herpes Simplex Virus. Jpn J Ophthalmol 48, 570–572 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-004-0112-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-004-0112-9

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