Comparison of intraocular to plasma HIV-1 viral burden in patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between plasma and intraocular human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) viral loads in 12 consecutive patients undergoing ganciclovir implant surgery for cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis.


METHODS
Aqueous and vitreous specimens were assayed for HIV-1 viral load by polymerase chain reaction analysis (Roche Amplicor HIV Monitor; Roche Diagnostics Systems, Inc, Branchburg, New Jersey).


RESULTS
It was possible to quantitatively assay HIV-1 burden in intraocular fluids using polymerase chain reaction analysis. In general, patients with plasma viral loads less than 250,000 copies/ml had undetectable (<200 copies/ml) HIV-1 in their aqueous and vitreous.


CONCLUSIONS
It is likely that intraocular viral levels have several determinants in addition to plasma viral loads, with which they only partially correlate.
Ciulla
T A
TA
Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202, USA.
Schnizlein-Bick
C T
CT
Danis
R P
RP
Frank
M O
MO
Wheat
L J
LJ
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000821:virology*; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D004343:Drug Implants; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D019562:Viral Load; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000821:virology*
D004343:Drug Implants; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015774:Ganciclovir