Polymerase Chain Reaction in the Management of Patients with Anterior Ophthalmoherpes: a Comparative Study of the Effectiveness of Clinical Use

Abstract

Patiens and methods. We observed 111 patients with various forms of prolonged herpetic keratitis and inflammatory ENT pathology. All patients underwent a study of biological secretions (tear, saliva, blood and urine) for the presence of DNA of herpetic viruses by PCR, systemic antiviral therapy was prescribed. All patients underwent a standard otolaryngological examination, СТ scan of the paranasal sinuses (if necessary), microbiological study of nasopharynx swabs. Local therapy of herpetic keratitis included anti-inflammatory and antibacterial components.Results and discussion. Isolated sinus infalanmmation occurred in 59 % of cases (65 patients), in 38 % of cases (42 patients) there were variants of combinations of sinus inflammation (sinusitis, sphenoethmoiditis, pansinusitis). In 24 % of those included in the study (n = 27), during examination, in addition to the presence or absence of sinusitis, chronic tonsillitis was determined. In 30 % of cases (more often than in other secrets), herpetic viruses were detected in saliva, coccal flora dominated in swabs from the nasopharynx. A marked reduction in ophthalmological symptoms correlated with start of ENT therapy.Conclusions. This clinical and laboratory study showed a close pathogenetic relationship of anterior ophthalmic herpes and concomitant inflammatory pathology of the paranasal sinuses and oropharynx. Active etiotropic therapy of sinusitis and tonsillitis promotes short-term reduction of ophthalmic symptoms.