PURPOSE: To determine the value of anterior chamber paracentesis with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients with anterior uveitis. DESIGN: Retrospective observational case series. SETTING: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. PATIENT POPULATION: Fifty-three patients with a diagnosis of anterior uveitis who underwent anterior chamber paracentesis with PCR. OBSERVATION PROCEDURES: Anterior chamber paracentesis with PCR of aqueous fluid. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Diagnostic utility and frequency of management change based on anterior chamber paracentesis and PCR. RESULTS: There were 15 of 53 (28%) acute and 35 of 53 (65%) chronic anterior uveitis patients. PCR positivity of herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, varicella zoster virus, and Epstein-Barr virus in our population were 4 of 53 (8%), 1 of 47 (2%), 1 of 35 (3%), and 1 of 18 (6%). Overall, 7 of 53 patients (13%) had a change in management because of PCR results from anterior chamber paracentesis. Four patients encountered paracentesis complications (4/53, 7.5%), 1 with long-term sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior chamber paracentesis with PCR had a relatively low diagnostic utility and resulted in few management changes in patients with suspected infectious anterior uveitis.
PURPOSE: To determine the value of anterior chamber paracentesis with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in patients with anterior uveitis. DESIGN: Retrospective observational case series. SETTING: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. PATIENT POPULATION: Fifty-three patients with a diagnosis of anterior uveitis who underwent anterior chamber paracentesis with PCR. OBSERVATION PROCEDURES: Anterior chamber paracentesis with PCR of aqueous fluid. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Diagnostic utility and frequency of management change based on anterior chamber paracentesis and PCR. RESULTS: There were 15 of 53 (28%) acute and 35 of 53 (65%) chronic anterior uveitispatients. PCR positivity of herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, varicella zoster virus, and Epstein-Barr virus in our population were 4 of 53 (8%), 1 of 47 (2%), 1 of 35 (3%), and 1 of 18 (6%). Overall, 7 of 53 patients (13%) had a change in management because of PCR results from anterior chamber paracentesis. Four patients encountered paracentesis complications (4/53, 7.5%), 1 with long-term sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Anterior chamber paracentesis with PCR had a relatively low diagnostic utility and resulted in few management changes in patients with suspected infectious anterior uveitis.
Authors: J Michael Miller; Matthew J Binnicker; Sheldon Campbell; Karen C Carroll; Kimberle C Chapin; Peter H Gilligan; Mark D Gonzalez; Robert C Jerris; Sue C Kehl; Robin Patel; Bobbi S Pritt; Sandra S Richter; Barbara Robinson-Dunn; Joseph D Schwartzman; James W Snyder; Sam Telford; Elitza S Theel; Richard B Thomson; Melvin P Weinstein; Joseph D Yao Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2018-08-31 Impact factor: 9.079