Pathogenesis of herpes simplex keratitis: The host cell response and ocular surface sequelae to infection and inflammation.

Pathogenesis of herpes simplex keratitis: The host cell response and ocular surface sequelae to infection and inflammation.
Ocul Surf. 2018 Oct 11;:
Authors: Lobo AM, Agelidis AM, Shukla D
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV) keratitis is a leading cause of infectious blindness. Clinical disease occurs variably throughout the cornea from epithelium to endothelium and recurrent HSV stromal keratitis is associated with corneal scarring and neovascularization. HSV keratitis can be associated with ocular pain and subsequent neutrophic keratopathy. Host cell interactions with HSV trigger an inflammatory cascade responsible not only for clearance of virus but also for progressive corneal opacification due to inflammatory cell infiltrate, angiogenesis, and corneal nerve loss. Current antiviral therapies target viral replication to decrease disease duration, severity and recurrence, but there are limitations to these agents. Therapies directed towards viral entry into cells, protein synthesis, inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor pathways in animal models represent promising new approaches to the treatment of recurrent HSV keratitis. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV) is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the developed world. HSV infection can occur at any location in the eye; the most common presentation is epithelial or dendritic keratitis. Herpes stromal keratitis can result in progressive corneal o...

Source: The Ocular Surface - October 11, 2018 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Lobo AM, Agelidis AM, Shukla D Tags: Ocul Surf Source Type: research