Cytomegalovirus retinitis and AIDS in Edinburgh

Clinical features of Cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and efficacy of the current therapy

Background

Cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) is the most common and sight-threatening opportunistic retinal infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and several controversies remain to be settled. We aimed to summarize the current evidence and clarify the clinical features and prognosis of CMVR in AIDS patients.

Methods

The databases PubMed, EMBASE, and Ovid from inception to April 2022 were searched to identify the relevant studies. R software version 3.6.3 was used to perform the statistical analyses. Results in proportion with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using the Freeman-Tukey variant of arcsine square transformation.

Results

We finally included 236 studies comprising 20,214 patients. CMVR in AIDS was male-dominated (88%, 95%CI 86%-89%), with 57% (95%CI 55%-60%) aged <41 years and 44% (95%CI 41%-47%) being bilaterally involved. CMVR was preponderant in AIDS patients with the following characteristics: white and non-Hispanic, homosexual, HIV RNA load ≥ 400 copies/mL, and CD4+ T-cells <50 cells/μL. The positivity of CMV-DNA in blood, aqueous humor, and vitreous humor was 66% (95%CI 52%-79%), 87% (95%CI 76%-96%), and 95% (95%CI 85%-100%), respectively. The most common symptoms were blurred vision (55%, 95%CI 46%-65%), followed by asymptomatic, visual field defect, and floaters. CMVR was first diagnosed and regarded as the clue to AIDS diagnosis in 9% (95%CI 6%-13%) of CMVR patients. Approximately 85% (95%CI 76%-93%) of the CMVR patients have received cART. CMVR remission was observed in 72%-92% of patients depending on the specific category of anti-CMV therapy. The general incidence of CMVR-related RD in the entire course was 24% (95%CI 18%-29%), of which most patients received PPV with SO or gas tamponade and the rate of anatomic success was 89% (95%CI 85%-93%).

Conclusion

CMVR is a common opportunistic infection with diverse clinical features in AIDS patients, preponderant in those who are male, homosexual, or with CD4+ T-cells <50 cells/μL. Current therapies for CMVR and CMVR-related RD were shown to be effective. Early detection and routine ophthalmic screening should be promoted in AIDS patients.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO, identifier CRD42022363105.

Cytomegalovirus retinitis associated with high CD4 counts and DHEA abuse

The most frequent ocular manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR). This infection is reportedly inversely proportional to the CD4 counts. Usually CMVR develops once the CD4 counts fall below 50/mm³. Our case report documents an AIDS patient who developed CMVR despite CD4 counts being persistently >200/mm³. The patient was self-administering dehydroepiandrosterone, high dose Vitamin C, testosterone and hydrocortisone. This case report describes a unique case of pharmacologically induced elevated CD4 counts, which however, did not prevent the development of CMVR in the patient.

Increasing survival in AIDS patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis treated with combination antiretroviral therapy including HIV protease inhibitors

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of combination antiretroviral therapy including HIV protease inhibitors on the survival of patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR).

DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS

A longitudinal study of patients with CMVR diagnosed between October 1992 and May 1996 and followed to May 1997.

SETTING

UK National Health Service specialist HIV medicine department.

OUTCOME MEASURE

Time to death from first diagnosis of CMVR. Data were censored on 31 May 1997.

RESULTS

Data were available on 147 patients with CMVR. Median survival of CMVR patients before December 1995 was 256 days [95% confidence interval (CI), 197-315]. Following the introduction of protease inhibitors in December 1995 this rose to 555 days (95% CI, 351-759). By 31 May 1996 median survival for the entire group of patients alive with CMVR had risen to 720 days (95% CI, 551-889). The mean survival after CMVR diagnosis was 224 days (n=89; 95% CI, 186-261; 1-year survival, 16%) in those who took no further antiretroviral therapy, 353 days in those who took nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors but no protease inhibitors (n=34; 95% CI, 289-418; 1 -year survival, 50%), and 914 days in those who took a protease inhibitor (n=24; 95% CI, 768-1059; 1-year survival, 83%; P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that the strongest independent predictor of improved survival was having ever received a protease inhibitor after CMVR (relative risk of death, 0.063; 95% CI, 0.027-0.149; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of HIV protease inhibitors in combination antiretroviral therapy has been associated with a marked increase in the survival of patients with CMVR.

Evaluation of a new self-screening chart for cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with AIDS

AIDS patients often present without visual symptoms despite severe vision-threatening cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. A new self-examination chart, the Teich Target (copyright 1993, Steven A. Teich, pat. no. 370259), which tests the central 45 degrees of vision, was evaluated for its ability to screen AIDS patients for CMV retinitis. It was compared with the Amsler grid (which tests the central 20 degrees of vision) in 50 consecutive AIDS patients referred for ophthalmologic evaluation by a single practitioner. Of 19 patients found to have CMV retinitis, 12 (63%) noted scotomas with the Teich Target compared with 7 (37%) with the Amsler grid (p < 0.05). Overall, 13 of 20 (65%) infectious retinitis cases were detected by the Teich Target. and 7 of 20 (35%) with the Amsler grid (p < 0.05). All scotomas noted on the Amsler grid were detected by the Teich Target. Four visually asymptomatic patients with newly diagnosed CMV retinitis noted scotomas only with the Teich Target. Both methods detected a branch retinal artery occlusion, but only the Teich Target detected a quadrantanopsia due to cerebral toxoplasmosis. There were no false positives with either method. In this small series, the Teich Target was more effective than the Amsler grid in screening AIDS patients for CMV retinitis primarily because it detected lesions beyond the central 20 degrees of vision. Peripheral CMV retinitis beyond the central 40 degrees occurred in 37% of patients and was net detected by either method. The Teich Target therefore augments but does not replace periodic ophthalmologic evaluations. The Teich Target may have potential utility for home use as a patient self-screening test for CMV retinitis or for mass screening in an AIDS clinic.

Cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS

Cytomegalovirus retinitis is common in adults with AIDS but has been reported infrequently in children with perinatally acquired HIV infection. The cases are presented of two infants with vertically acquired HIV infection who developed disseminated cytomegalovirus infection and retinitis, and who posed difficult management issues.