PURPOSE:

To report on AIDS patients having combination antiretroviral therapy whose cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis remained inactive after discontinuation of anti-CMV maintenance therapy.

METHODS:

We describe the course of CMV-retinitis in 3 patients with AIDS after initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy.

RESULTS:

After cessation of anti-CMV therapy no relapse of CMV-retinitis has been observed for up to 18 months. Two of the patients developed new CMV-retinitis in the first months after initiation of combination therapy, nevertheless after further improvement of immunological parameters retinitis remained stable without anti-CMV therapy.

CONCLUSION:

The sustained immunological effects of combination therapy are possibly sufficient enough to provide protection against CMV-retinitis.