Abstract
Purpose To find out if varicella zoster virus is the causative agent of Thygeson's superficial punctuate keratitis.
Methods Epithelial cells were harvested from the punctuate epithelial lesions 9 patients with Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. After DNA extraction polymerase chain reaction was carried out with varicella zoster virus primers.
Results All samples were negative with regard to varicella zoster virus genome.
Conclusions This result suggests that varicella zoster virus is most probably not the causative agent of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
Thygeson P . Superficial punctate keratitis. J Am Med Assoc 1950; 144: 1544.
Thygeson P . Further observations on superficial punctate keratitis. Arch Ophthalmol 1961; 66: 158–162.
Thygeson P . Clinical and laboratory investigations on superficial punctate keratitis. Am J Ophthalmol 1966; 61: 1344–1349.
Braley AE, Alexander RC . Superficial punctate keratitis. Isolation of a virus. Arch Ophthalmol 1953; 50: 147–154.
Lemp MA, Chambers RW, Lundy J . Viral isolate in superficial punctate keratitis. Arch Ophthalmol 1974; 91: 8–10.
Reinhard T, Sundmacher R . Topical cyclosporin A in Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 1999; 237: 109–112.
Jones BR . The differential diagnosis of punctate keratitis. Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 1960; 80: 665–675.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Reinhard, T., Roggendorf, M., Fengler, I. et al. PCR for varicella zoster virus genome negative in corneal epithelial cells of patients with Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis. Eye 18, 304–305 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6700621
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6700621
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Thygeson’s superficial punctate keratitis
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (2022)
-
Thygeson’s superficial punctate keratitis (TSPK): a paediatric case report and review of the literature
BMC Ophthalmology (2021)
-
Using pre-existing social networks to determine the burden of disease and real-life needs in rare diseases: the example of Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases (2021)


