Serum complement fixing antibody in herpetic ocular diseases
Wu, J.S.; Yamanishi, R.; Kaneko, M.; Uchida, Y.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi 85(5): 415-418
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-0203 PMID: 6973922 Document Number: 172805
Ocular involvement in ophthalmic herpes zoster occasionally show the same clinical features as herpes simplex (HS). For the differential diagnosis, the serum complement fixation (CF) test was evaluated. In 30 patients with ophthalmic herpes zoster, serum CF titers for varicella-zoster (VZ) virus began to rise within 1 wk after the onset of skin lesions. In most patients, titers remained high (.gtoreq. 1:16) for 3 mo. and then lowered gradually. CF titers for HS were negative in 12 patients. Two patients with zoster developed a concomitant 4-fold rise in CF titers of HS. All 33 patients with HS keratitis showed a positive CF test for HS while only 3 of CF titers for VZ were .gtoreq. 1:8. A high CF titer for VZ with a negative CF for HS may indicate the zoster etiology of the ocular involvement.