Association Between Torque Teno Virus and Systemic Immunodeficiency in Patients With Uveitis With a Suspected Infectious Etiology

Abstract

To determine the correlation between the presence of torque teno virus (TTV) in the aqueous humor of patients with uveitis and clinical information, including immunodeficiency history. Multicenter, retrospective, cross-sectional study. Fifty-eight patients with uveitis with a suspected infectious etiology and 24 controls with cataract or age-related macular degeneration were included. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction to test all subjects for TTV and multiplex polymerase chain reaction to test uveitis subjects for common ocular pathogens. When possible, both serum and aqueous humor samples were tested. Ocular TTV positivity was compared with age, sex, and a history of systemic immunodeficiency with logistic analysis. Ocular TTV positivity was found in 23%, 11%, and 0% of patients with herpetic uveitis, nonherpetic uveitis, and controls, respectively. Among patients with herpes infection, positivity for ocular TTV was found in 43%, 8%, 14%, and 50% of patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis, iridocyclitis, acute retinal necrosis, and Epstein-Barr virus-positive uveitis, respectively. Patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis showed a significantly higher rate of ocular TTV infection than controls (P=.008). Serum analysis revealed TTV positivity in 90% of patients with uveitis and in 100% of controls. Age- and gender-adjusted logistic analysis revealed a correlation between ocular TTV positivity and systemic immunodeficiency (P=.01), but no correlations between ocular TTV and age, gender, or viral pathogenic type. These findings suggest that positivity for ocular TTV was correlated with a clinical history of systemic immunodeficiency.