Retrospective study of CMV retinitis in patients with AIDS

Objective To study the characteristics of clinical presentations and treatm ent outcome of patients with HIV infection who developed cytomegalovirus(CM V) retinitis. Methods A retrospective study for the period 1986-97 at the regional Unit o f Infectious Diseases, Newcastle General Hospital; a teaching hospital in t he north-east of England. Twenty-seven patients with advanced HIV disease a nd clinically confirmed CMV retinitis were studied. The mean age was 40.8 y ears, standard deviation +/-6.3 years. The male:female ratio was 25:2. Twen ty-six of the patients were white Caucasians and one was of Afro-Caribbean origin. Results The median time between the first AIDS-defining diagnosis and devel opment of CMV retinitis was 1.5 years and the CD4+ cell count at the time o f diagnosis of CMV retinitis was 7/mm(3). After 14 months of treatment. 80% of patients on mono antiretroviral therapy had impairment of sight (visual acuity 3/60) versus 30% For those on triple antiretroviral therapy. In the same period, the survival rate was 18 versus 70% for mono versus triple an tiretroviral therapy, respectively. Conclusion The outcome fur patients with CMV retinitis was significantly be tter for those who were on triple than For those on mono antiretroviral the rapy.