Analysis of herpes virus group (DNA) from cerebrospinal fluid in vogt-koyanagi-harada disease.

In order to detect herpes virus group DNA including that of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH), the authors employed the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure using DNA from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from patients with VKH. Method. Seven CSF samples were obtained from six definite, active VKH cases and DNA was isolated. DNA fragments containing parts of herpes simplex virus (HSV), herpes zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalo virus (CMV), EBV and human herpes virus type 6 (HHV-6) sequences were amplified by PCR. Results. No DNA fragment corresponding to the DNA sequence of the herpes virus group was detected. Conclusion. Our results suggest that the herpes virus group does not have a close association with the cause of VKH.