Cytomegalovirus retinitis. Experience acquired at the ophthalmology department of the Ibn Rochd Teaching Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco, 1986-1998.

Cytomegalovirus retinitis, the most common opportunistic ocular infection i n AIDS, consistently causes blindness if left untreated, From 1986 to 1998, 18 cases were managed at the infectious diseases department of the Casabla nca Teaching Hospital. There were 10 men and eight women, with a mean age o f 31.5 years. Visual acuity was decreased in 66% of cases. The mean CD4 cou nt at diagnosis was lower than 80 cells/mm(3). Ganciclovir was used in 14 c ases and foscarnet in four, Complete healing of the lesions was documented in all patients, after a mean treatment duration of 5 weeks; two patients g iven oral ganciclovir as maintenance therapy developed a recurrence at the sixth week. The mean time to death after the diagnosis of retinitis was six months. Because of its high cost, triple combination therapy was used in o nly two patients, a fact that further burdened the prognosis.