Comparison of intraocular to plasma HIV-1 viral burden in patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between plasma and intraocular human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) viral loads in 12 consecutive patients un dergoing ganciclovir implant surgery for cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. METHODS: Aqueous and vitreous specimens were assayed for HIV-1 viral load b y polymerase chain reaction analysis (Roche Amplicor HIV Monitor; Roche Dia gnostics Systems, Inc, Branchburg, New Jersey). RESULTS: It was possible to quantitatively assay HIV-1 burden in intraocula r fluids using polymerase chain reaction analysis. In general, patients wit h plasma viral loads less than 250,000 copies/ml had undetectable (<200 cop ies/ml) HIV-1 in their aqueous and vitreous. CONCLUSIONS: It is likely that intraocular viral levels have several determ inants in addition to plasma viral loads, with which they only partially co rrelate. (Am J Ophthalmol 1999;127:221-223. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science In c. All rights reserved.).