Download Cytomegalovirus Retinitis (CMV Retinitis)

Cytomegalovirus Retinitis
(CMV Retinitis)
intravenously, injected directly into the
eye or through an intravitreal implant.
CMV retinitis, is the most
common
severe
infection
affecting the eye in patients
with AIDS. The disease typically
occurs during the late stages of
AIDS when individuals have a T
cell , or CD4 count, of less than
100. Left untreated, CMV can
take a person's sight within two
to six months.
Treatment continued: The vitrasert
implant procedure has recently been
shown to be superior to intravenous
therapy in controlling the CMV infection,
as reported by Dr. David Musch from
the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye
Center in the New England Journal of
Medicine.
The most common symptoms of
Cytomegalovirus retinitis are:
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

Floaters
Light flashes
Blind spots
Blurred vision
Obstructed areas of vision
Sudden decrease of vision
CMV Retinitis is a adventitious
condition
caused
by
Cytomegalovirus. While CMV is
found in almost everyone, and
is usually fought off by the
immune system, for people who
are immunocompromised, by
diseases,
transplants,
or
chemotherapy the virus is not
adequately destroyed and can
cause damage to the eye and
the rest of the body. HIV
positive persons are most at risk,
especially when the CD4 cell
count decreases. CMV is a
common virus that infects those
who are HIV positive.
Treatment:
The
most
common
prescribed
medications for cytomegalovirus retinis
are: ganciclovir (Cytovene), foscarnet
(Foscavir) and cidofovir (Vistide). These
drugs can be administered orally,
The vitrasert implant is surgically
placed in the eye and so delivers a
high concentration of drug directly to
where the infection is located. Retinal
surgeons at the Kellogg Eye Center
perform these surgeries on a routine
basis. The implant procedure is done
as an outpatient and is effective for
approximately six to nine months, at
which time a second device can be
implanted.
Images:
Sources:
1. http://www.redatlas.org/fr_ind
ex.htm?/RAPages/G/G000.htm
2. http://www.mamashealth.com/
eye/cmvret.asp
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cy
tomegalovirus_retinitis
4. http://www.kellogg.umich.edu/p
atientcare/conditions/cmv.html
5. http://www.uveitissociety.org/pa
ges/diseases/cmvr.html
developed by: Darren Stilwell