Significance and limits of PCR diagnosis in orofacial and genital herpes simplex virus infection in the pregnant woman and neonate
Rozenberg, F.
Annales de Dermatologie et de Venereologie 129(4 Part 2): 617-624
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0151-9638 PMID: 12122332 Document Number: 547473
The availability of methods of detection of DNA by PCR amplification has deeply modified the knowledge on herpes simplex virus infections. These methods have allowed a better understanding of the physiopathogeny of the disease. In particular, PCR has revealed the importance of asymptomatic viral shedding in infected patients. PCR helps diagnosis in many situations where viral isolation by culture proves difficult or impossible, i.e. in treated or atypical lesions, or in newborn central nervous system infections. In addition, PCR has underlined the existence of prolonged viremia in infected newborns. PCR helps sequencing of the viral genome for further epidemiological studies or analysis of resistance to antiviral drugs. Recent PCR-derived techniques have been developed to quantify viral load in real time, and allow to obtain a diagnosis in a few hours. Despite these major advances, the use of PCR in several clinical situations still needs to be further validated.