Eye Herpes

kl323 · Jul 8, 2012

Hey guys

So I'm studying for Step 2.

Just wondering if someone can clarify this for me...

Does dendritic and dendriform mean the same thing? I recall seeing these words use to characterize herpes simplex keratitis and herpes zoster ophthalmicus (sp?) respectively.

If they are different, is it safe to associate those words as the following:::

dendritic = HSV
dendriform = HZV

Can't seem to recall where I found these descriptors and their connections.

Thanks!

Shnurek · Jul 8, 2012

Yes. They both just mean in the shape of a tree or branching.

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/dendritic
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/dendriform

username456789 · Jul 8, 2012

It's probably beyond the scope of Step 2, but HSV typically has dendritic lesions with a terminal bulb appearance, while HZV tends to have similar looking lesions without the terminal bulbing.

HelpPleaseMD · Jul 8, 2012

GuyWhoDoesStuff said:
It's probably beyond the scope of Step 2, but HSV typically has dendritic lesions with a terminal bulb appearance, while HZV tends to have similar looking lesions without the terminal bulbing.

that probably explains why one is called dentritic and the other dentriform. Good to know.

Shnurek · Jul 8, 2012

GuyWhoDoesStuff said:
HSV typically has dendritic lesions with a terminal bulb appearance, while HZV tends to have similar looking lesions without the terminal bulbing.

Exactly:

"SIMPLEX VS. ZOSTER
Viral illness, herpes simplex and herpes zoster share some features in common—all can cause systemic illness and vesicular lesions, for instance. So, it is critical to distinguish some of the subtle features. For example, simplex tends to cause true dendritic corneal lesions, while zoster causes pseudodendrites or simpler diffuse staining."
(Source: http://www.revoptom.com/continuing_education/tabviewtest/lessonid/106745/)

Ah so HZV is not actually dendritic but dendri-"form" or pseudodendritic. I just finished first year so just took the basic sciences

kl323 · Jul 8, 2012

Cool. Thanks!

Eye Herpes

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