Herpetic Anterior Uveitis - Analysis of Presumed and PCR Proven Cases.

PURPOSE: To describe the demographics and clinical characteristics of patients with herpetic anterior uveitis (HAU), and compare characteristics by pathogen, recurrence, and association to iris atrophy.

METHODS: Multicenter, retrospective study of AU patients diagnosed clinically and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTS: The study included 112 eyes in 109 patients: 54 (48.2%) HSV, 34 (30.4%) VZV, 2 (1.8%) CMV, and 22 (19.6%) unspecified diagnosis. HSV eyes, compared to VZV, had a higher recurrence rate, corneal involvement, KPs, iris atrophy, elevated IOP and posterior synechia (p < 0.05). VZV patients had more frequent immunomodulatory treatments and history of systemic herpetic disease (p < 0.05). Fifty-nine (52.7%) eyes had recurrent disease. Iris atrophy was associated with a higher prevalence of posterior synechia, dilated distorted pupil, and high IOP (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Different HAU-causing Herpesviridae produce common clinical findings; therefore, PCR should be used more often to confirm specific diagnosis. Iris atrophy was associated with more severe disease.