title: Treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with intravitreal ganciclovir implant.
abstract: To determine the efficacy and complication of the sustained-release intravitreal ganciclovir implanted to control cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, a prospective study with intravitreal ganciclovir devices placed in 5 eyes was conducted. No concomitant systemic anti-CMV therapy was used. The results showed that retinitis was controlled in all cases. Visual acuity improved dramatically within three weeks postoperatively and maintained for a mean period of 5.6 months. The best corrected postoperative visual acuity of the groups was not statistically significantly different from the preoperative measurement, (P=0.06, one-tailed test). Serious ocular complications were not encountered. As such the implant offers a promising alternative for local control of CMV retinitis associated with AIDS. The vision was improved and stabilized with functional vision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tayanithi
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004343:Drug Implants; D015774:Ganciclovir