DETECTION OF HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS-DNA IN THE PERIPHERAL-BLOOD DURING ACUTE RECURRENT HERPES LABIALIS

Background: Although herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been detected in t he peripheral blood of immunocompromised patients and in neonates with disseminated disease, the extent to which this virus may be present i n the blood during a localized infection in otherwise healthy adults i s unknown. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine wheth er HSV may be detected in the peripheral blood during acute recurrent herpes labialis. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) w ere obtained from otherwise healthy adults with recurrent herpes labia lis, both during an acute episode and several weeks after the lesions had healed. The PBMCs were examined for the presence of HSV with the p olymerase chain reaction (PCR) and viral culture. Results: By PCR, HSV DNA was detected in 7 of 34 specimens from an acute episode but in no ne of 24 specimens in the convalescent stage (p < 0.004). PBMCs from s even donors, who were seronegative for HSV, were also negative for HSV by PCR. Viral cultures of 22 PBMC specimens were negative (including four specimens that were positive by PCR). Conclusion: The presence of HSV DNA in the blood is a transient phenomenon limited to the period of active infection in a minority of patients with herpes labialis, al though it may be important in the development of disseminated disease as well as in the pathogenesis of herpes-associated cutaneous processe s such as erythema multiforme.