title: Cytomegalovirus infection in AIDS. Patterns of disease, response to therapy and trends in survival.
abstract: Among 347 AIDS patients seen at St Mary's Hospital, London between 1983 and 1989, cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease was observed in 75 (22%). Of these, 58 (77%) had CMV retinitis, 26 (35%) CMV colitis, and 12 (16%) had CMV infection diagnosed at other sites. Relapse occurred in 71%. A favourable response to the use of ganciclovir as induction therapy for CMV retinitis was observed in 92%. Relapse of CMV retinitis occurred in 54% at a median time of 97 days. Neutropenia was the most frequent and serious side-effect of ganciclovir, 76% patients having neutrophil counts less than 1.0 x 10(9)/l and 48% less than 0.5 x 10(9)/l at some stage of therapy. Thrombocytopenia was also common, and platelet counts of less than 50 x 10(9)/l occurred in 43% patients on ganciclovir. The concurrent use of zidovudine made the development of severe neutropenia and thrombocytopenia more likely. Median survival following the diagnosis of CMV disease increased from 5-8 months between 1984 and 1987, to over 12 months in 1988. Patients with CMV colitis had a worse prognosis than patients with CMV retinitis, with median survival of 4.5 and 7 months respectively. In conclusion, CMV is an important opportunist infection in AIDS and both the disease and its treatment cause considerable morbidity. Hence, it is important to develop more effective and less toxic forms of therapy for CMV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London, U.K.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Main
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Migdal
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pinching
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D017245:Foscarnet; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010746:Phosphonoacetic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012173:Retinitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D017245:Foscarnet; D015215:Zidovudine; D010746:Phosphonoacetic Acid; D015774:Ganciclovir