INVESTIGATIONS IN THE VIROLOGICAL ETIOLOGY IN ACUTE RETINAL INFLAMMATION

Virological investigations for herpes simplex virus (HSV), cytomegalov irus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were performed in nine patient s of acute retinal inflammation. Serum samples of all the patients wer e assayed for IgG and IgM antibodies to HSV, CMV and EBV. Vitreous flu id (VF) from 5 patients was tested by immunofluorescence and culture f or detection of HSV and CMV. In four patients, VF was also assayed for IgG and IgM antibodies to HSV and CMV. HSV was shown tg be the etiolo gical agent in 3 patients with acute retinal necrosis (ARN) syndrome a nd in one patient with multifocal retinitis. CMV was the causative age nt in one patient of ARN and 1 patient with clinically diagnosed CMV r etinitis. Evidences of infection with these three viral agents could n ot be obtained in one patient with clinical diagnosis of CMV retinitis who tested positive for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus 1. A ll other patients were HIV negative, Identification of the causative v iral agent of acute retinal inflammations may help an ophthalmologist to institute specific therapy particularly for HSV and CMV infections.