Cmv disease can affect both eyes and is the most common cause of blindness among people with aids. This viral infection is especially threatening to people who have compromised immune systems. Pdf cytomegalovirus retinitis in rheumatic disease. Between 50% and 85% of the us population tests positive for cmv by the time they are 40 years old.
Cmv retinitis usually results from reactivation of a latent cmv infection. Case reports optical coherence tomography changes in macular cmv retinitis lisa l. Cmv retinitis is a serious eye infection that can lead to blindness. This means combining immune system reconstitution with effective short. Reduced incidence, still a threat cytomegalovirus retinitis is a sightthreatening infection caused by a member of the human herpesviridae family.
Apr 15, 2020 inflammation of the retina of the eye caused by cytomegalovirus cmv infection. The good news is that if the patient receives the correct combination of treatments, the chance of getting cmv retinitis is reduced. The virus is not a threat to most of the population, as it is easily fought off by a healthy immune system. The common feature of these two patients was combining bacterial. The common feature of these two patients was combining bacterial pneumonia and. Cytomegalovirus cmv retinitis is the most common ocular opportunistic infection affecting patients with aids, despite the fact that the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy haart has. Cmv retinitis is caused by a member of a group of herpestype viruses. This is a type of retinitis that develops from a viral infection of the retina. Dilation of the pupils and ophthalmoscopy will show signs of cmv retinitis. Cytomegalovirus retinitis associated with lenalidomide use.
Human cytomegalovirus hcmv retinitis is a serious ocular complication in patients. Infectious retinitis the american society of retina specialists. Visual loss in patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis and acquired. Individuals with a cd4 lymphocyte count below 50, a plasma hiv1 rna level greater than 100,000, or who have been. In highincome settings, we suggest starting art approximately two weeks after starting therapy to treat cmv 1. It represents about 90% of all infectious retinitis in this patient population. It is a significant threat to people with weak immune systems, such as people with hiv and aids, newborns, the elderly, people taking chemotherapy, and recipients of organ transplants. Cmv retinitis may be treated systemically or intravitreally. The retina is the lightsensing nerve layer that lines the back of the eye.
Cmv spreads from person to person through body fluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, semen and breast milk. It is most often found in people with weakened immune systems. In recent years, numerous reports have tied cytomegalovirus retinitis cmvr with multiple systemic conditions in the absence of human immunodeficiency virus hiv or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome aids. Cmv retinitis attacks the retina and can lead to sudden blindness. While blindness is no longer a common side effect for patients living with hivaids in the united states, the same is not true in developing countries and in areas where the disease still carries significant social stigma. Acute retinal necrosis secondary to cytomegalovirus. Also, in older adults with weaker immune systems, the virus can spread from a shingles infection on the forehead andor nose and infect the retina, causing cmv retinitis. The patient initially improved on a course of adenine. The zone of retinitis advances at a rate of approximately 750 microns, or half a disc diameter every three weeks.
However, with a rise in aids among patients, an augmented prevalence of cmv retinitis has been observed 23, 24. Cytomegalovirus retinitis in an immunocompetent patient. Management of cytomegalovirus retinitis in hiv and nonhiv patients. Cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with acquired immune. Patients angiogram presented significant peripheral retinal ischemia and cystoid macular edema. Cytomegalovirus retinitis cmv is a herpes class virus that affects almost exclusively in immunocompromised hosts or systemically infected neonates.
Symptoms of cmv retinitis often appear relatively suddenly. Apr 01, 2012 cytomegalovirus cmv is the most common infectious congenital syndrome worldwide, occurring in 0. These range from reports in apparently healthy individuals, through conditions rendering limited immune dysfunction such as advanced. Caused by human cytomegalovirus, it occurs predominantly in people whose immune system has been compromised, 1540% of those with aids. Retinitis may be caused by several infectious agents, including toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus and candida. Retinitis pigmentosa rp and cytomegalovirus cmv retinitis. Most cases of cytomegalovirus cmv retinitis are reported in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome aids patients. Jan 01, 2017 cytomegalovirus cmv retinitis is a disease characterized by progressive, necrotizing retinitis that can lead to blindness in patients with immunocompromised states. Cmv pneumonia retinitis and hepatitiscmv pneumonia, retinitis and hepatitis pathogenicity in people with cancer, transplanted organs, aids or other immune deficiencies cmv can cause severe diseases of theimmune deficiencies, cmv can cause severe diseases of the lung, liver, colon, eye or brain a leading cause of congenital birth defects.
In contrast, retinitis is quite uncommon in solidorgan transplant sot and hematopoietic stemcell transplant hsct recipients. Pdf cytomegalovirus retinitis after multiple ocular. It can progress to blindness, and in some cases, be accompanied by potentially fatal systemic disease. Cytomegalovirus cmv retinitis clinical presentation. An interesting case of cmv retinitis in a case of all on. Initial intravitreal injection of highdose ganciclovir. The gold standard for diagnosis of cmv retinitis is examination of the retina through a dilated pupil by a skilled clinician using an indirect ophthalmoscope. Symptomatic cmv disease can affect almost every organ of the body, resulting in fever of unknown origin, pneumonia, hepatitis, encephalitis, myelitis, colitis, uveitis, retinitis, and neuropathy. Pdf on jan 1, 2017, rowayda m amin and others published cmv retinitis. Nearly 60% of individuals over the age of 60 and more than 80% of those over the age of 80 exhibit seropositivity 2. Aidsrelated cytomegalovirus cmv retinitis is one of the most serious ocular complications in individuals with aids. Cmv retinitis, page 1 of 3 factsheet cmv retinitis what is cmv retinitis. However, the key difference in both these conditions is that retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic eye disease that you inherit from one or both of your parents.
Treatment of aidsrelated cytomegalovirus retinitis uptodate. When people with healthy immune systems are infected, they may have no symptoms at all or they may have a short flu like illness. Disease is usually recognized unilaterally at first but may present bilaterally. Cmv retinitis occurs much less frequently in this group of patients than in the aids population. Comparative analysis of cytomegalovirus retinitis and. Cmv retinitis afflicted 25% to 42% of aids patients in the prehighly active. The clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, risk factors, and diagnosis of cmv retinitis are discussed here. Treatment of congenital cytomegalovirus retinitis with. With the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy haart for hiv treatment, the incidence and severity of cmv retinitis went down by 5595%.
Update on diagnosis and treatment of cmv retinitis haart has decreased the incidence, but a definitive cure for cmv retinitis remains elusive. Cmv retinitis is the most common retinal opportunistic infection in patients with aids, which if left. Pdf comparison of autophotomontage software programs in. Our group initiated the use of intravitreal cidofovir for the treatment of cmv retinitis 22 and has shown that intravitreal injections of 20 g of cidofovir are effective in the control of newly diagnosed and previously treated cmv retinitis. Clinical failure of cmv retinitis with intravitreal. Pathophysiology and treatment of clinically resistant. In recent years, numerous reports have tied cytomegalovirus retinitis. Cytomegalovirus cmv is a ubiquitous dna herpes virus that causes significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. Cytomegalovirus infection knowledge for medical students. Lenalidomide cancausemyelosuppression,but,likethepreviouslyreported. Cytomegalovirus retinitis is an important cause of blindness in aids patients, and is the most common cause of vision loss in aids patients.
Cmv retinitis is characterized by progressive, necrotizing retinitis that can lead to retinal detachment, optic atrophy and finally loss of vision 17, 18. How to treat cytomegalovirus retinitis american academy of. The choice of initial therapy for cmv retinitis should be individualized, based on location and severity of the lesions, the level of immunosuppression, and other factors e. Vgc, and the gcv implant are all supported by randomized controlled trial rct data 11. However, systemic treatment is associated with less spread of cmv retinitis from one eye to the other. Cytomegalovirus retinitis is a sightthreatening disease caused by cmv, a dna virus from the human herpesviridae hhv family. Cmv infection can be diagnosed with blood or urine tests that look for substances specific to the infection. Forty to 60 percent of american, australian and european populations are cmv seropositive. Jan 01, 2014 update on diagnosis and treatment of cmv retinitis haart has decreased the incidence, but a definitive cure for cmv retinitis remains elusive.
Untreated cmv retinitis in aids patients is a progressive and potentially blinding disorder. Cytomegalovirus cmv retinitis is an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome aidsrelated opportunistic infection that can lead to blindness. For patients who develop aidsrelated cytomegalovirus cmv retinitis, treatment consists of cmv antiviral therapy and antiretroviral therapy art for hiv. Most people have been exposed to the virus, but it usually. Cytomegalovirus retinitis cmvr is the most common ocular opportunistic infection associated with. Cytomegalovirus retinitis usually results from reactivation of a latent cmv. Clinical failure of cmv retinitis with intravitreal cidofovir.
These points are important in evaluating the patient history. Most people are exposed to cmv in their lifetime, but typically only those with weakened immune systems become ill from cmv infection. What are the symptoms of cytomegalovirus cmv retinitis. We believe that the optimal treatment strategy should combine the. To describe the case of a 74yearold man who developed cytomegalovirus cmv retinitis after multiple ocular surgeries. Rarely, cmv retinitis is the first presenting manifestation of aids. However, medications can help treat newborns and people with weak immune systems. Current and emerging antivirals for the treatment of.
Cytomegalovirus retinitis cmv retinitis is a serious viral eye infection of the retina. In people with hiv, cmv retinitis with loss of vision is an aidsdefining condition. Cytomegalovirus retinitis, highdose, ganciclovir, intravitreal injection, aqueous humour cytomegalovirus cmv infection is common in the general population 1. Management of cytomegalovirus retinitis in hiv and nonhiv.
However, the introduction of potent combination antiretroviral therapy art regimens in 1996 has led to changes in the incidence, natural history, management, and sequelae of cmv retinitis. Infection with the cytomegalovirus cmv or human herpes virus 5 is generally asymptomatic in immunocompetent hosts, but can cause mild mononucleosislike symp cytomegalovirus infection knowledge for medical students and physicians. Both conditions result in the swelling and damage to the retinitis. Candida may spread to the retina from the bloodstream, which usually leads to the production of several abscesses in the retina. Jun 01, 2016 cytomegalovirus cmv is a virus that can cause an opportunistic infection see fact sheet 500. Cmv retinitis occurred with higher frequency prior to the advent of antiretroviral therapy, but has since been decreasing in welldeveloped countries, although still remains a prevalent condition in developing countries. Cmv retinitis is usually seen in hiv disease or in post allogenic stem cell transplant. Evaluation revealed cytomegalovirus cmv retinitis with low cd4 counts. The virus is not a threat to most of the population, as it.
Simultaneously, new and changing treatment options for cmv retinitis became available, allowing physicians to customize therapies and to combine treatments. It is caused by a virus called cytomegalovirus cmv. Patient tested positive for polymerase chain reaction, confirming cytomegalovirus retinitis. Optimal management of cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with aids. What is cmv retinitis cytomegalovirus is a very common virus in the herpes family. These pathogens affect patients differently depending on characteristics like age, location, and immune status. Cmv retinitis is a slow but relentlessly progressive necrotizing retinitis with destruction of the entire retina in three to six months 19,20. Cmv retinitis is the most common opportunistic ocular infection and the leading cause of visual loss in aids patients. Optical coherence tomography changes in macular cmv. However, should the patient develop cmv retinitis, medical therapy is available. Cmv or cytomegalovirus retinitis is a vision threatening virus that causes inflammation of the retina, primarily in individuals with a compromised immune system, such as those with aids acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Valganciclovir for cytomegalovirus prevention and treatment.
Cytomegalovirus cmv is the most common infectious congenital syndrome worldwide, occurring in 0. Treatment is aimed at preventing permanent vision loss and protecting the fellow eye. A tissue biopsy can detect the viral infection and presence of cmv virus particles, but this is rarely. Infectious retinitis is an inflammation of the retina resulting from infection by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites. Cotton wool spots appear as small, fluffy white lesions with indistinct margins and are not associated with exudates or hemorrhages. Cmv retinitis is a potentially blinding manifestation of cmv infection that was commonly seen in advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome aids in the era before modern combination antiretroviral therapy era, but is also. About onehalf of all canadian adults have been infected with cmv. Cytomegalovirus retinitis an overview sciencedirect topics. Retinal physician update on diagnosis and treatment of cmv. The cmv retinitis becomes one of the most prevalent opportunistic infection in aids patients causing blindness. Cmv retinitis answers are found in the johns hopkins hiv guide powered by unbound medicine. The prevalence of cmv retinitis in the cohort of 303 hospitalized aids patients was 7. Dilation of the pupil is critical, because cmv retinitis can occur anywhere in the retina and without a dilated pupil only a fraction of the retina can be examined. The diagnosis of cmv retinitis is usually made clinically.
Causative viruses include herpes simplex virus hsv, varicella zoster virus vzvherpes zoster virus hzv, cytomegalovirus cmv, and possibly epsteinbarr. Without treatment, people with cmv retinitis can cause people to lose their vision. Cmv present no signs or symptoms, but it is best known to infect or reactivate in severely immunocompromised humans such as organ transplant recipients and those living with hivaids. Cytomegalovirus retinitis is the most frequent ocular infection due to opportunistic germs and is the main cause of visual loss in patients with aids 9. Treatment of cmv disease cmv retinitis the treatment of cmv retinitis is guided by studies in patients with aids.
Cmv retinitis has the potential to involve and rapidly damage the macula and optic disk, to cause retinal detachments, and to result in visual impairment and ultimately in blindness. Ultrawide field fluorescein angiogram of a 77yearold male with multiple myeloma. Feb 11, 2019 this treatment regimen has altered the longterm management of cmv retinitis. Cmv retinitis is an eye disease common among people who are infected with hiv, the virus that causes aids. It is estimated that before the beginning of the art era, this retinopathy was present in 30% of patients with vih, although this figure decreased by approximately 80% after the start of art. The many ways of delivering drugs to treat cmv retinitis are summarized below. Cytomegalovirus retinitis, also known as cmv retinitis, is an inflammation of the retina of the eye that can lead to blindness. Cytomegalovirus cmv retinitis is the most common intraocular infection in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome aids, and a leading cause of aidsrelated morbidity. Cmv retinitis, otherwise known as cytomegalovirus retinitis, is a serious viral infection that is a member of the herpesvirus family. Cmv retinitis is diagnosed through an ophthalmologic exam. Studies of ocular complications of aids soca in collaboration with the aids clinical trial gr. The difference for people who have aids is that their weakened or nonfunctioning immune system cannot stave off this virus. Answer to help prevent blindness, doctors both treat the retinitis and work to strengthen your immune system. Cmv retinitis accounts for at least 90% of hivrelated infectious retinopathies.
Association between cytomegalovirus viremia and incident. Role of bax in death of uninfected retinal cells during murine. The disease is believed to be hematogenously spread, and retinal disease is by far the most common clinical manifestation. Cmv retinitis is a serious eye infection of the retina, the lightsensing nerve layer that lines the back of the eye. Comparative analysis of cytomegalovirus retinitis and microvascular. Symptoms, if any, include blurred vision, floaters, and blind spots. With the availability of potent antiretroviral therapy for hiv, the incidence of cmv retinitis has decreased significantly 2,3. Feb 11, 2019 active cmv retinitis usually is found in conjunction with immunosuppression, whether from aids, leukemia, or use of chemotherapy. When the immune defenses are weak, cmv can attack several parts of the body. When people with healthy immune systems are infected, they may have no. Similar tothis case, cmv retinitis presented in their patient with multiple myeloma, on lenalidomide therapy, and in the absence of detectable systemic cmv titers. Cmv retinitis, cytomegalovirus symptoms, cmv treatment. Cmv retinitis is the most common and severe intraocular complication in patients with hiv.
About 80% of adults harbor antibodies to cmv, which indicates their bodies have successfully fought it off. The diagnosis of cmv retinitis is a clinical one and it is important for physicians to be familiar with the clinical. Management includes combining therapies such as foscarnet with ganciclovir. In immunocompromised individuals, symptomatic disease usually manifests as a mononucleosis syndrome. We describe a 67yearold white man with wegeners granulomatosis who was treated with cyclophosphamide, then with azathioprine, and who subsequently developed cytomegalovirus retinitis. Optical coherence tomography changes in macular cmv retinitis. Cmv retinitis is caused by the cytomegalovirus, which is a very common virus. Patients with cmv retinitis should have frequent ophthalmological examinations during treatment with ganciclovir injection to monitor disease status and for other retinal abnormalities see adverse reactions 6. Seva launched the aids eye initiative in 2007 to reduce. Cytomegalovirus cmv culture results, drug resistance, and clinical outcome in patients with aids and cmv retinitis treated with foscarnet or ganciclovir.
Multiple myeloma with cytomegalovirus retinitis retina. Differentiating suspected cmv retinitis from cotton wool spots is essential. Viral retinitis is a rare disease that implies involvement of herpesviridae, a family of doublestranded dna viruses characterised by latency within the hosts cells after primary infection. Reactivation of cytomegalovirus cmv in aids patients can affect a variety of organ systems. Prevalence and clinical management of cytomegalovirus.