title: Cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is the most common intra-ocular infection in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and a leading cause of AIDS-related morbidity. Untreated CMV retinitis in AIDS patients is a progressive and potentially blinding disorder. The diagnosis of CMV retinitis is a clinical one and it is important for physicians to be familiar with the clinical features of the disease. Ophthalmic screening of AIDS sufferers should be undertaken at regular intervals, and this is dictated, in part, by the patient's CD4+ T-lymphocyte (CD4) counts. CMV retinitis may be treated with systemic ganciclovir, foscarnet or cidofovir, or with local (intravitreal) therpy. CMV-related retinal detachment is treated surgically. In some patients with quiescent CMV retinitis receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy, anti-CMV maintenance therapy may be discontinued in favour of close ophthalmologic observation and CD4 count monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Au Eong
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beatty
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Charles
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D000077404:Cidofovir; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003596:Cytosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017245:Foscarnet / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D063065:Organophosphonates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D063065:Organophosphonates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D017245:Foscarnet; D003596:Cytosine; D000077404:Cidofovir; D015774:Ganciclovir