Work

No Evidence of Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection in Temporal Artery Biopsies of Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Patients With and Without Giant Cell Arteritis

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: To test the hypothesis that varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection contributes to temporal arteritis pathogenesis, comprehensive in situ analysis was performed on temporal artery biopsies of 38 anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) patients, including 14 (37%) with giant cell arteritis. METHODS: Biopsies were completely sectioned, and, on average, 146 serial sections per patient were stained for VZV glycoprotein E. RESULTS: Four of 38 AION patients showed VZV glycoprotein E staining, but VZV infection was not confirmed by staining for VZV IE63 protein and VZV-specific polymerase chain reaction on adjacent sections. CONCLUSIONS: This study refutes the premise that VZV is casually related to AION with and without giant cell arteritis.

Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases

DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa566

Authors: Robert M Verdijk, Werner J D Ouwendijk, Robert W A M Kuijpers, Georges M G M Verjans

Institutions: Leiden University Medical Center, Erasmus MC, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

Language: English

Topic: Vasculitis and related conditions

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,763