[Spontaneous remission of cytomegalovirus retinitis in a patient infected with the human immunodeficiency virus].
BACKGROUND
We report a case of CMV retinitis cured in an AIDS patient after two months of regular HAART therapy without CMV medications.


METHODS
A 37-year-old patient (baseline CD4 count 47/ml) receiving HAART (2 NRTI and 1 IP) showed poor compliance and had increased his CD4 count for two months reaching 263/ml although HIV viral load remained high (71,840 copies/ml). His fundus was normal. He was evaluated 8 months after a period of loss to follow-up: his CD4 count was 65/ml, HIV viral load was 123,000 copies/ml, CMV serology for IgV and viruria were positive, viremia was negative, his fundus revealed a healed CMV retinitis. Six months later and without any CMV therapy, no relapse has been observed while regularly taking HAART medications.


CONCLUSIONS
Few cases have been reported in which HAART therapy with good immune response and reduced HIV viral load lead to complete regression of CMV retinitis without specific CMV medication. This case suggests that, even with an uncontrolled HIV viral load, HAART via transient immune restoration may contribute to resolving CMV retinitis.
el-Hajj
L
L
Service des Maladies Infectieuses, Hôpital Raymond-Poincaré, Garches.
Bani-Sadr
F
F
Moussallati
H
H
Cohereau
I
I
de Truchis
P
P
Perronne
C
C
D000328:Adult; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000150:complications*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
Rétinite à cytomégalovirus guérie spontanément chez un patient infecté par le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine.