TRIPLE VIRAL RETINITIS DIAGNOSED BY POLYMERASE-CHAIN-REACTION OF THE VITREOUS BIOPSY IN A PATIENT WITH RICHTER-SYNDROME

PURPOSE: To report the evaluation and identification of herpes viruses associated with retinitis in a patient with Richter syndrome. METHODS : Diagnostic vitrectomy was performed on a patient with systemic leuke mia and retinitis, The vitreous sample was evaluated by cytology, anal ysis of cytokines by ELISA, and detection of virus by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The vitreous biopsy specimen showed no malignant c ells but predominant CD8(+) lymphocyte infiltration with elevated inte rferon gamma and interleukin-6, DNA amplification and Southern blot an alysis demonstrated DNA of herpes simplex, varicella-zoster, and cytom egalovirus. CONCLUSION: Retinitis associated with multiple viruses in the vitreous biopsy may mimic leukemic infiltration in the eye. (Am J Ophthalmol 1998; 126:732-733. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc. All ri ghts reserved,).