Spontaneously resolving CMV retinitis in an HIV-infected patient

Background, - We report a case of CMV retinitis cured in an AIDS patient af ter two months of regular HAART therapy without CMV medications. Case report. - A 37-year-old patient (baseline CD4 count 47/ml) receiving H AART (2 NRTI and 1 IP) showed poor compliance and had incerased his CD4 cou nt for two months reaching 263/ml although HIV viral load remained high (71 ,840 copies/ml). His fundus was normal. He was evaluated 8 months after a p eriod of loss to follow-up: his CD4 count was 65/ml, HIV viral load was 123 ,000 copies/ml, CMV serology for IgV and viruria were positive, viremia was negative, his fundus revealed a healed CMV retinitis, Six months later and without any CMV therapy, no relapse has been observed while regularly taki ng HAART medications, Conclusion, - Few cases have been reported in which HAART therapy with good immune response and reduced HIV viral load lead to complete regression of CMV retinitis without specific CMV medication. This case suggests that, eve n with an uncontrolled HIV viral load, HAART via transient immune restorati on may contribute to resolving CMV retinitis.