Cytomegalovirus retinitis and ocular complications in AIDS patients in Togo

Background: Cytomegalovirus retinitis seems to be an uncommon complication in African AIDS patients. This study was conducted in 200 patients in order to evaluate AIDS eye related complications with specific focus to cytomega lovirus retinitis. Material and methods: During a period of 20 months, 200 patients (83 men an d 117 women) presenting WHO AIDS case definition diagnosis were enrolled fo r a complete ocular examination comprising external, anterior segment and r etinal fundus and fluorescein angiographic examination. Results: For the whole, 200 patients underwent ocular examinations; of them 121 (60.5 %) developed ocular complications. The most frequent complicatio ns were cotton whool spots (25.5 %), cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis (21.5 %), retinal hemorrhage (6 %), papilloedema (3 %), chorioretinal toxoplasmos is (3 %), peripheral retinal vascularitis (2.5 %), herpes tester ophthalmic us (2 %). Among those with CMV retinitis, bilateral lesions were found in 3 0 cases, and unilateral ones in 13 cases. Poor Vision was associated with t he presence of CMV retinitis in 88 % of cases. Death occurred in a,mean ran ge of 22 days after the "presumed" diagnosis of CMV retinitis. Conclusion : Cytomegalovirus retinitis represents the second ocular complic ation in AIDS patients in this study. Poor visual outcome was associated in 88 % of cases. These results demonstrate that in some west African countri es, C MV retinitis may be a common complication in AIDS patients.