Cytomegalovirus retinitis after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV infected patients: natural history and clinical predictors.

Purpose: To characterize the natural course and clinical predictors of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 53 HIV-positive patients (73 eyes with CMV retinitis) treated with and without HAART. All participants continued to take anti-CMV therapy.

A controlled trial of valganciclovir as induction therapy for cytomegalovirus retinitis.

Background: Valganciclovir is an orally administered prodrug that is rapidly hydrolyzed to ganciclovir. We compared the effects of oral valganciclovir with those of intravenous ganciclovir as induction therapy for newly diagnosed cytomegalovirus retinitis in 160 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Methods: The primary end point was photographically determined progression of cytomegalovirus retinitis within four weeks after the initiation of treatment.