CICATRIZATION OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS RETINITIS FOLLOWING INTRODUCTION OF HIGHLY-ACTIVE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY - UVEITIS AS A POSSIBLE INDICATOROF GOOD OCULAR PROGNOSIS

Purpose: To quantify the inflammatory reaction that can be seen in HIV -infected patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis after the intr oduction of an HIV protease inhibitor and correlate it with ocular fin dings and systemic HIV parameters, a Methods: Report of a patient with CMV retinitis systematically followed by slit-lamp examination, fundu scopy, fundus photographs and laser flare photometry before and after introduction of an HIV protease inhibitor. a Results: Manifest granulo matous panuveitis developed 2 months after the introduction of the pro tease inhibitor indinavir (CD4 rise from 2 to 64 CD4/mm(3)) and coinci ded with cicatrization of the CMV retinitis in the absence of efficien t anti-CMV therapy. a Conclusion: Occurrence of uveitis in patients wi th CMV retinitis following the introduction of HIV protease inhibitors may be a factor indicating a good ocular prognosis, possibly pointing to the presence of the anti-CMV repertoire in the reconstituting CD4 cell population.