Long-term Intravitreal Ganciclovir for Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in a Patient With AIDS

Abstract

To the Editor. —Intravenous ganciclovir (dihydroxy-propoxymethyl-guanine, BW B759U) has shown promising results in the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), although serious side effects may prevent its use.^1,2 Recently, intravitreal ganciclovir was reported to be effective as a short-term treatment in one case.³ Following is a report of one case in which this treatment stabilized the disease and maintained visual acuity near 1.0, thus preserving the patient's autonomy for over nine months. Report of a Case. —A homosexual male patient 38 years of age was diagnosed as having AIDS in November 1985, when he developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. In March 1987, bilateral CMV retinitis involving the posterior pole and the disc in the right eye and a large sector on the nasal periphery in the left eye was diagnosed by its typical ophthalmoscopic appearance. Visual acuity was 0.05 OD and 1.5 OS.