title: Discontinuation of maintenance therapy for CMV retinitis in AIDS patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically modified the natural history of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) in AIDS patients. In this context, we discontinued maintenance therapy in eight AIDS patients with previous CMVR and a good and persistent immune and virological response to HAART (CD(4) >/= 75/mm(3) in all patients, viral load </=30,000 copies of RNA/ml in seven patients and negative CMV viremia in six patients whose viremia was evaluated). The median recurrence-free interval before maintenance discontinuation was 613 days (326-787). No recurrence was observed after a median follow-up of 248 days (183-368) without maintenance therapy. In conclusion, discontinuation of maintenance therapy for CMVR in AIDS patients with good immune response to HAART can be considered and appears to be safe with a careful follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, ULB, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Postelmans
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sommereijns
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caspers-Velu
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012173:Retinitis / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents