title: Recovery of long-term natural protection against reactivation of CMV retinitis in AIDS patients responding to highly active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To see whether in severely immunosuppressed AIDS patients (with prior Cytomegalovirus retinal disease) who have significant increases in CD4+ lymphocytes following the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) anti-Cytomegalovirus (CMV) maintenance therapy can be withdrawn with no subsequent progression of CMV retinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients with AIDS and one or more previous episodes of CMV retinitis interrupted anti-CMV maintenance therapy following the successful beginning of HAART. CD4 cell counts and HIV-RNA were monitored monthly while measurement of CMV antigenemia and ophthalmoscopy were carried every 2 weeks thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HAART recipients in whom anti-CMV maintenance therapy had been interrupted had measureable increases of CD4+ T lymphocytes, substantial control of both HIV-RNA and CMV viraemia and did not show recurrence of retinitis during a mean follow-up of 98.4 weeks (range 78-120, SD 15.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-CMV maintenance therapy can be interrupted with no subsequent progression of retinal damage over a long time in patients with AIDS who successfully respond to HAART with a significant increase in CD4 cell count.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Perri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vento
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazzi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonora
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonora
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trevenzoli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Allegranzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carretta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanzafame
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pizzighella
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Concia
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral