title: Correlation between CD4+ counts and prevalence of cytomegalovirus retinitis and human immunodeficiency virus-related noninfectious retinal vasculopathy in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: We prospectively studied 132 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) to determine the cross-sectional prevalence of cytomegalovirus retinitis. All patients had serum CD4+ lymphocyte counts to determine the degree of immune dysfunction. Correlations between CD4+ counts, the presence of cytomegalovirus retinitis or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related noninfectious retinal vasculopathy, and ocular symptoms were made. The study disclosed that 26 of 132 patients with AIDS (20%) had cytomegalovirus retinitis. However, subset analysis according to CD4+ count disclosed that in patients with CD4+ counts of 50 cells/mm3 or less, 26 of 87 (30%) had cytomegalovirus retinitis, whereas in patients with CD4+ counts of 50 cells/mm3 or more, none of 45 was noted to have cytomegalovirus retinitis. Similarly, 46 of 132 patients (35%) were noted to have HIV-related noninfectious retinal vasculopathy, with a trend toward increasing prevalence associated with declining CD4+ count. In patients with CD4+ counts of 50 cells/mm3 or less, 39 of 87 (45%) had HIV-related noninfectious retinal vasculopathy, whereas seven of 45 patients (16%) with CD4+ counts of 50 cells/mm3 or more were noted to have these changes. We confirmed the clinical impression that cytomegalovirus retinitis and HIV-related noninfectious retinal vasculopathy are late manifestations of AIDS, demonstrated an increased risk for patients with low CD4+ counts, and suggested a basis for coherent chemoprophylaxis and screening strategies for cytomegalovirus retinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0946.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Kuppermann
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Petty
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Richman
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Fullerton
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Rickman
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Freeman
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000276:immunology*; D012173:Retinitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology