Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients.
Methods: Retrospective case-series study. The clinical and laboratory data of 80 AIDS patients (118 eyes) with findings of CMVR were collected from Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center from December 2006 to December 2011. The relationship between CMVR and cellular immunity, the high risk factor, clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of CMVR were analyzed in this study. χ(2) test was used to check the incidence of CMVR in different CD4(+) T lymphocyte count groups.
Results: There was 80 AIDS patients (118 eyes) totally, 71 males and 9 females. Their age was from 18 to 60 years old, which mean value was (38 ± 10) years old. The incidence in the group of CD4(+) T lymphocyte count over 100 cells/µl was lower than the two groups of CD4(+) T lymphocyte count less than 100 cells/µl (χ(2) = 15.567, 32.469; P = 0.00,0.00). CD4(+) T lymphocyte count was always ranged from 0 to 141 cells/µl in CMVR patients. It was less than 50 cells/µl in 81.3% cases. In 10.0% AIDS patients, CMVR was the first manifestation. In 25% AIDS patients(26 eyes), lesions in retina was found by routine eye examination. In 54.2% patients, the best corrected visual acuity was less than 0.3. Retinal necrosis was involvement near the posterior pole in 62.5% CMVR patients. The visual acuity of 51 eyes was improved after treatment within 94.1% cases which were treated within 3 months. However, BCVA of 35 eyes decreased or with less change within 42.9% cases which were treated after symptoms appeared 3 months. The anti-CMV treatment included induction and maintenance of ganciclovir or foscarnet stopped when the CD4(+)T lymphocyte count was more than 150 cells/µl in 3 continuous months. 86.9% eyes were cured clinically. Retinal detachment, immune reconstitution uveitis and complicated cataract was found in 13.1%, 12.1% and 20.5% cases respectively. Optic atrophy occurred in 6 eyes. The visual acuity of 28.9% eyes was 0.05 or less, 71.3% of that caused by retinal detachment, cataract and optic atrophy.
Conclusions: CD4(+) T lymphocyte count reduction is the risk factor for CMVR. HAART and anti-CMV therapy will cure the CMVR clinically.Routine eye examinations should be performed in all AIDS patients to get early diagnosis of CMVR or other opportunistic infections to avoid vision loss, especially in those CD4(+) T lymphocyte count lower than 100 cells/µl.