Treatment of clinically resistant cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients: combination of intravenous ganciclovir and intravitreal foscarnet

Eur J Ophthalmol. 1995 Oct-Dec;5(4):199-203. doi: 10.1177/112067219500500401.

Abstract

The treatment of clinically resistant cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients requires a combination of foscarnet and ganciclovir, but the poor clinical condition of some patients may weigh against this intravenous regimen. We treated three patients with high-dose intravitreal foscarnet (2400 micrograms/0.1 ml; 25 injections; mean follow-up 14.6 weeks) combined with intravenous ganciclovir (5 mg/kg twice daily), and obtained complete control of the retinitis in a mean time of 3.4 weeks with no ocular or systemic side effects and no other eye/organ cytomegalovirus dissemination. This combined therapy seems useful for clinically resistant cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications*
  • Adult
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / complications*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Foscarnet / therapeutic use*
  • Ganciclovir / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Injections
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Ophthalmoscopy
  • Retinitis / complications
  • Retinitis / pathology
  • Retinitis / virology*
  • Vitreous Body

Substances

  • Foscarnet
  • Ganciclovir