CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA ASSOCIATED WITH CYTOMEGALOVIRUS RETINITIS IN PATIENTS WITH THE ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical and fluorescein angiographic appeara nce of cystoid macular edema associated with cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). METHO DS: We retrospectively examined the clinical and photographic records of four patients with AIDS and cytomegalovirus retinitis who developed cystoid macular edema. RESULTS: Seven eyes of four patients with AIDS and cytomegalovirus retinitis experienced decreased vision associated with cystoid macular edema, Vitreous inflammation was mild in each pa tient. In all eyes, the retinitis involved zone 1, and in all but one eye, the cytomegalovirus retinitis was inactive, In one eye, the cysto id macular edema was worsened by formation of a dense juxtafoveal epir etinal membrane. CONCLUSIONS: Although infrequently recognized, cystoi d macular edema can cause visual loss in patients with AIDS and cytome galovirus retinitis, Fluorescein angiography should be considered in a ny patient with cytomegalovirus retinitis and unexplained visual loss. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.