HERPES-ZOSTER SINE HERPETE - A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF IRIDOPLEGIC GRANULOMATOUS IRIDOCYCLITIS

Objective: Herpes tester ophthalmicus (HZO) is a recurrence of varicel la tester virus involving cranial nerve V-l, but does not always have skin manifestations, The objective of this work is to study iridoplegi c granulomatous iridocyclitis as an acute, fulminant iridocyclitis tha t probably is caused by the recurrence of varicella tester virus witho ut skin eruptions. Participants: The author reports 15 cases of iridop legia granulomatous iridocyclitis with involvement of the anterior uve al tract without known skin eruptions. Results: All patients have had a clinical course of iridocyclitis closely resembling those cases of h erpes tester with skin eruptions. Nine of the 15 are documented to hav e had a recurrence of varicella tester virus with an appropriate rise and fall of systemic titers, The remaining six patients had clinical f indings, including loss of accommodation, iridoplegia, and sectoral ir is atrophy that were more typical for HZO than other infectious agents . Conclusions: Iridoplegic granulomatous iridocyclitis is a newly desc ribed, acute, fulminant uveitis probably caused by a herpes virus and most probably by varicella tester virus. Herpes tester sine herpete (e rupticum) should be suspected as a potential diagnosis in patients wit h appropriate anterior segment manifestations, Further study is necess ary to discern if any of such cases could be caused by herpes simplex.