INFECTION OF THE CORNEAL ENDOTHELIUM IN HERPES-SIMPLEX KERATITIS

PURPOSE: To describe viral infection of the corneal endothelium in a p atient with recurrent herpes simplex virus keratitis in the corneal gr aft. METHODS: Case report. A healthy 28-year-old man presented with ne crotizing stromal keratitis and corneal perforation in the corneal gra ft. A second penetrating keratoplasty was performed. The corneal butto n was processed for histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic studies. RESULTS: Histopathologically, the corneal endoth elium showed viral inclusion bodies. Herpes simplex virus antigens and viral particles were identified in stromal keratocytes and corneal en dothelial cells, CONCLUSION: Productive herpes simplex virus infection of the corneal endothelial cells may contribute to corneal graft fail ure in recurrent herpes simplex virus infections. (Am J Ophthalmol 199 8;126:592-594; (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc, All rights reserved.) .