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.
Department of Ophthalmology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202, USA.
T A
TA
Ciulla
C T
CT
Schnizlein-Bick
R P
RP
Danis
M O
MO
Frank
L J
LJ
Wheat
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