Intravitreal ganciclovir injections for cytomegalovirus retinitis in acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: To report a case series of intravitreal ganciclovir injections for cytomegalovirus retinitis in acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).Materials and Method: Case report.Results: Four case series of successful treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) who were treated with HAART in Hospital Kota Bharu. All patients were given an induction of intravenous ganciclovir for two weeks and followed by intravitreal ganciclovir 2.0 mg/0.1 ml every alternate week until the CMVR resolved or CD4 count achieved at least 100 cells x10[6] cells /L . All patients showed improvement of CMVR and increasing trend of CD4 count throughout the treatment. No sign of recurrence or complication related to intravitreal injection were noted in all four cases.Conclusion: CMVR can be effectively and safely treated with intravitreal ganciclovir together with HAART in order to preserve vision and to prevent potential blinding complications in AIDS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]