Epidemiological considerations about retinal opportunistic infections in HIV-infected patients in France

Purpose: To evaluate the evolution of the epidemiology of retinal opportuni stic infections in HIV-infected patients from 1994 to 1997 and to assess th e effect of HAART initiated in 1996. Materials ann methods: Epidemiological prospective study using the data collected during ocular examinations of H IV-infected patients conducted in a single referral center specialized in H IV infection. Results: From 1995 to 1997, the total number of examined HIV- infected patients and the incidence of retinitis related to CMV, VZV, tuber culosis, and toxoplasmosis decreased. The incidence of CR;IV retinitis, whi ch was by far the most frequent ocular infection, fell from 6.2% to 1.2%. C omments: The dramatic decrease in retinal opportunistic infections since 19 96 may be related to the use of HAART. However, a close follow-up is still justified due to the increasing occurrence of resistance to protease inhibi tors.