Optic nerve head neovascularization in a patient with inactive cytomegalovirus retinitis and immune recovery.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of optic nerve head neovascularization in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) associated with inactive cytomegalovirus retinitis and immune recovery.


METHODS
Case report.


RESULTS
We examined a 29-year-old man with AIDS and inactive cytomegalovirus retinitis and found vitritis and prominent optic nerve head neovascularization. The patient had been treated with reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors, resulting in a notable rise in CD4+ lymphocyte count and an undetectable human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-RNA viral load. No cause of neovascularization other than intraocular inflammation was detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Immune recovery in a setting of inactive cytomegalovirus retinitis can result in optic nerve head neovascularization, as seen in our patient.
Sanislo
S R
SR
Department of Ophthalmology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Eye Institute, OH, USA.
Lowder
C Y
CY
Kaiser
P K
PK
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral