title: Anterior segment findings in AIDS patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anterior segment findings in AIDS patients presenting with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis have not been specifically addressed in the American literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study evaluated 21 AIDS patients with CMV retinitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen (90%) of these patients exhibited corneal endothelial deposits concurrent with CMV retinitis. The endothelial deposits were microscopic, opaque, linear flecks arranged in a reticular-like fashion. Of 42 eyes evaluated, 32 (76%) demonstrated active CMV retinitis. Corneal endothelial deposits were noted in 26 (81%) of the 32 eyes with retinitis. These corneal endothelial deposits were absent in the eyes which did not have CMV retinitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Meticulous examination of the retina of an HIV-positive or AIDS patient who presents with reticularly arranged, linear, flecked corneal endothelial deposits should be performed to ensure that the diagnosis of CMV retinitis can be ruled out.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Butrus
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Laby
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Rabinowitz
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Parenti
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000473:pathology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged