Seven years of HAART impact on ophthalmic management of HIV-infected patients.
OBJECTIVE
The widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has changed the clinical picture of HIV-associated eye disease. We evaluated the incidence of ocular manifestations of HIV infection since the introduction of HAART.


METHODS
Between January 1996 and December 2002, we examined 539 HIV-infected patients in our hospital. Follow-up of the patients was performed in case of ophthalmologic symptoms, regardless of current immunologic status, or for screening.


RESULTS
A total of 217 patients (40.3%) had HIV-associated eye disease. Of these patients, 42.0% had no eye symptoms. Fifty-eight (10.8%) of the 539 patients had cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, most of whom had CMV retinitis before receiving HAART. Four patients developed immune-recovery uveitis. A total of 145 patients (26.9%) had HIV-related microangiopathy and 96 (17.8%) had dry-eye syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of HAART had a major impact on the medical history of patients with HIV-related eye disease with improved survival time and decreased morbidity.
Kahraman
Günal
G
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Krepler
Katharina
K
Franz
Carmen
C
Ries
Eva
E
Maar
Noemi
N
Wedrich
Andreas
A
Rieger
Armin
A
Dejaco-Ruhswurm
Irene
I
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral