No Evidence of Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection in Temporal Artery Biopsies of Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Patients With and Without Giant Cell Arteritis

Abstract Background To test the hypothesis that varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection contributes to temporal arteritis pathogenesis, comprehensive in situ analysis was performed on temporal artery biopsies of 38 anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) patients, including 14 (37%) with giant cell...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2021-01, Vol.223 (1), p.109-112
Main Authors: Verdijk, Robert M, Ouwendijk, Werner J D, Kuijpers, Robert W A M, Verjans, Georges M G M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arteritis
Autoimmune diseases
Biopsy
Chicken pox
Editor's Choice
Glycoprotein E
Glycoproteins
Infections
Ischemia
Major and Brief Reports
Optic neuropathy
Polymerase chain reaction
Varicella
Vein & artery diseases
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Summary:Abstract Background To test the hypothesis that varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection contributes to temporal arteritis pathogenesis, comprehensive in situ analysis was performed on temporal artery biopsies of 38 anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) patients, including 14 (37%) with giant cell arteritis. Methods Biopsies were completely sectioned, and, on average, 146 serial sections per patient were stained for VZV glycoprotein E. Results Four of 38 AION patients showed VZV glycoprotein E staining, but VZV infection was not confirmed by staining for VZV IE63 protein and VZV-specific polymerase chain reaction on adjacent sections. Conclusions This study refutes the premise that VZV is casually related to AION with and without giant cell arteritis. Comprehensive in situ analysis of temporal artery biopsies of 38 anterior ischemic optic neuropathy patients, including 14 patients with giant cell arteritis, does not support the contribution of arterial VZV infection in the pathogenesis of temporal arteritis.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/jiaa566