Results of silicone oil removal in patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis related retinal detachments.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the percentage and risk indicators leading to retinal redetachment in HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) patients with CMV (cytomegalovirus) retinitis related retinal detachments that were repaired with silicone oil, and then subsequently underwent oil removal. DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative interventional case series. METHODS: The study cohort consisted of a series of 15 eyes in 14 patients with HIV and CMV retinitis with a retinal detachment (RD) repaired with silicone oil at a single center and followed from the time of the CMV retinitis diagnosis through the time of silicone oil removal. Patient- and eye-specific data regarding demographic and clinical characteristics were collected retrospectively and statistical analyses were performed to compare differences between the eyes that had retinal detachments versus the eyes that remained attached following removal of silicone oil. RESULTS: Eight eyes (53%) redetached after a median of 4.0 months following oil removal. Cataract surgery performed at the time of oil removal was a statistically significant risk factor for redetachment (P = .01). There was a trend for lower CD4 levels to be associated with a higher risk of retinal redetachment. The use of a scleral buckle at the time of surgery (initial RD repair or at the time of oil removal) did not reduce the risk of redetachment. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately half of the eyes with CMV related retinal detachment may safely undergo oil removal. The risk factor for redetachment was simultaneous cataract extraction at the time of silicone oil removal. There was also a trend for lower CD4 levels to be associated with a higher risk of retinal redetachment.

Guarded microvitreoretinal blade.

During vitreoretinal surgery, the microvitreoretinal blade may be misdirected and injure operating room personnel. A sheated, retractable blade has been developed to reduce the likelihood of such injuries. In the blade's retracted position, a safety feature prevents inadvertent exposure of the sharp blade. This device may have its greatest utility in operating on patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis who require either retinal reattachment surgery or placement of a ganciclovir implant.

Potential complication associated with removal of ganciclovir implants.

PURPOSE: To describe the complication of separation of the medication pellet from the tab during the removal of a ganciclovir implant. METHOD: Case reports. RESULTS: Separation of the pellet from the tab upon removal of ganciclovir implants occurred at the time of reimplantation in two human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our cases show the possibility of pellet separation from the tab during the removal of a ganciclovir implant. Although pellet separation from its tab is rare, surgeons should be aware of this potential complication. Modifying recommended techniques to remove the ganciclovir implant may reduce the incidence of pellet-tab separation.

Incidence and management of cataract after retinal detachment repair with silicone oil in immune compromised patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of and risk factors for cataract and to describe the visual outcomes of cataract surgery in eyes with cytomegalovirus-related retinal detachments repaired with silicone oil. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: A prospectively generated database of all patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis examined at a single tertiary care institution was used to identify all cases of retinal detachment between October 1983 and August 1997. Data on retinal detachment repair, development of cataract, and outcomes of cataract surgery were obtained retrospectively. RESULTS: Among 904 eyes of 587 immune-compromised patients diagnosed with cytomegalovirus retinitis, 198 eyes of 155 patients developed retinal detachment. Among these, 106 eyes of 90 patients underwent retinal detachment repair with silicone oil. The Kaplan-Meier estimated median time to cataract was 1.8 months after surgery with silicone oil. The adjusted relative risk of cataract in eyes that underwent retinal detachment repair with silicone oil compared with eyes that did not was 6.74 (P <.0001). Eight of the eyes that developed cataract underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery by phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. Among these, six eyes experienced >or=2 lines of improvement in visual acuity. All developed posterior capsule opacification a median of 7 days after cataract surgery. Four of five eyes that that underwent neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser capsulotomy experienced >or=2 lines improvement in visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high incidence of cataract after surgery with silicone oil tamponade for cytomegalovirus-related retinal detachment. Posterior capsule opacification occurs rapidly after cataract surgery in these patients.

Treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis with an intraocular sustained-release ganciclovir implant.

The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and complications of the use of an intraocular sustained-release ganciclovir implant for the treatment of active cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in AIDS patients. Thirty-nine eyes of 26 patients were submitted to ocular surgery. All patients underwent complete ocular examination before and after surgery. The surgical procedure was always done under local anesthesia using the same technique. The mean time for the surgical procedure was 20 min (range, 15 to 30 min). The average follow-up period was 3.7 months. Of all patient, only 4 presented recurrence of retinitis after 8, 8, 9 and 2 months, respectively. Three of them received a successful second implant. All 39 eyes of the 26 patients presented healing of retinitis as shown by clinical improvement evaluated by indirect binocular ophthalmoscopy and retinography. Retinitis healed within a period of 4 to 6 weeks in all patients, with clinical regression signs from the third week on. Six (15.4%) eyes developed retinal detachment. None of the patients developed CMV retinitis in the contralateral eye. The intraocular implant proved to be effective in controlling the progression of retinitis for a period of up to 8 months even in patients for whom systemic therapy with either ganciclovir or foscarnet or both had failed. The intraocular sustained-release ganciclovir implant proved to be a safe new procedure for the treatment of CMV retinitis, avoiding the systemic side effects caused by the intravenous medications and improving the quality of life of the patients.

[Prognosis of retinal detachment in cytomegalovirus retinitis]. / Pronostic du décollement de rétine sur rétinite à cytomégalovirus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and the prognosis of retinal detachment in CMV retinitis in AIDS. To test intravitreal injections of ganciclovir into the vitreal cavity filled with silicone. METHODS: Among 136 eyes with CMV retinitis, 15 (11%) had retinal detachment. Ten eyes underwent intraocular surgery with injection of silicone oil, one extraocular surgery and four eyes were not operated. Later, four eyes filled with silicone received intravitreal injections of ganciclovir. RESULTS: At 2 months, the retina was flat in all the operated eyes, with a visual acuity improved or stabilized in 8 cases (73%). Conversely, visual acuity was lost in all the unoperated eyes. The 14 intravitreal injections of ganciclovir performed in four eyes (which received 2, 3, 3 or 6 injections, respectively) were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Surgery of retinal detachment in CMV retinitis usually allows the conservation of ambulatory visual acuity. Its indications must be discussed together with the patient, the ophthalmologist and the physician. Intravitreal injections of ganciclovir in vitreal cavity filled with silicone oil are possible.

Cytomegalovirus retinitis in a patient with proliferative diabetes retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To report a case of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in an immunocompetent patient with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: A 69-year-old man presented with a 44-year history of diabetes mellitus and 4 years of PDR. Fundus of left eye could not be visualized because of vitreous hemorrhage. Laboratory tests indicated normal immunological status. RESULTS: Yellowish white retinal exudative lesion and whitening inside vascular arcades were observed during vitrectomy. Multiplex PCR using vitreous sample detected CMV DNA at 4.37 × 10(4) copies/mL. CMV retinitis was diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: If atypical findings of PDR are observed, a multiplex PCR test should be performed for further investigation.

The human eye (retina): a site of persistent HCMV infection?

BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) retinitis frequently occurs in severely naturally and iatrogenically immunocompromised patients. It has been shown that the immune-privileged retina is a major site of HCMV infection in AIDS patients. It is conceivable either that during the immunosuppression HCMV infection reactivates in various other organs viremically affecting the retina or that HCMV persisting in the retina may locally reactivate and result in HCMV retinitis. METHODS: As there is still controversy about the sites of HCMV latency and persistence we investigated 75 eyes of HIV-seronegative patients undergoing enucleation due to a variety of malignant and non-viral benign ophthalmic disorders for the retinal presence of HCMV antigen and DNA. RESULTS: None of the analyzed patients had symptoms of HCMV retinitis. Immunohistologic staining as well as Taq Man DNA PCR analysis showed all samples to be free of HCMV. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the human eye is rather unlikely to be a site of productive or latent HCMV persistence.

Improved visual results after surgical repair of cytomegalovirus-related retinal detachments.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine whether visual outcomes have improved after repair of retinal detachments (RDs) associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, and, if so, whether factors such as earlier intervention and changes in surgical technique have led to these results. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective review of 35 eyes in 30 immunocompromised patients with CMV retinitis and RD who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with the use of silicone oil injection. Visual and anatomic results in eyes treated between January 1991 and April 1992 (group 1) were compared with eyes treated before January 1991 (group 2). Follow-up was limited due to patient mortality; median follow-up was 4.1 months in group 1 and 2.5 months in group 2. RESULTS: Best-attained postoperative visual acuities were better for group 1 than group 2 eyes, with 71% of group 1 eyes attaining visual acuity of 20/200 or better compared with 17% of group 2 eyes (chi-square1 trend = 12.3; P < 0.001). A similar result was found among eyes with macula-off detachments. Ambulatory visual acuity of 5/200 or better was achieved in 86% of group 1 versus 33% of group 2 eyes. There was a longer interval between diagnosis and surgery in group 2 compared with group 1 (7 versus 3 days); scleral buckling in conjunction with pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection was used in more group 1 eyes. CONCLUSION: Earlier intervention, absence of preoperative optic atrophy, and macular CMV correlate with better postoperative visual acuity results. Pars plana vitrectomy combined with silicone oil for eyes with macula-off RDs can result in improved visual acuity.

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments with cytomegalovirus retinitis.

The most important ocular opportunistic infection in patients with AIDS is cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. Management of CMV retinitis has become complex, as the life expectancy of many patients has increased exponentially. Most retinal detachments in CMV retinitis are rhegmatogenous in nature. Because of atrophic changes in the retina and alterations in the vitreous, surgical management of these detachments leads to a stepladder approach. Options include laser demarcation, scleral buckle, and vitrectomy with silicone oil. In some patients, a combination of all three procedures may be necessary. Management in all cases should be individualized, with the realization that failure of retinal reattachment may occur.

Intraocular and plasma HIV-1 RNA in HIV-infected patients with CMV retinitis and HIV-infected controls.

HIV-1 RNA was quantified in intraocular specimens and plasma from AIDS patients with CMV retinitis undergoing therapeutic vitrectomy and in 8 control subjects undergoing cataract surgery using the Amplicor RT-PCR-based assay. The HIV-1 RNA concentration in the intraocular specimens was significantly lower than in plasma. Patients with CMV retinitis and plasma HIV-1 RNA concentrations > 100,000 copies/ml generally had detectable HIV-1 RNA in their intraocular specimens. These findings point to the risk of percutaneous injury from a sharp instrument used in HIV-infected patients during ophthalmic surgery and possible transmission of HIV during such surgery. Prevention of percutaneous contact will require the use of surgical instruments that reduce the likelihood of injury, as well as the wearing of double gloves during surgery.

Treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis with an intraocular sustained-release ganciclovir implant

The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and complications of the use of an intraocular sustained-release ganciclovir implant for the treatment of active cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in AIDS patients. Thirty-nine eyes of 26 patients were submitted to ocular surgery. All patients underwent complete ocular examination before and after surgery. The surgical procedure was always done under local anesthesia using the same technique. The mean time for the surgical procedure was 20 min (range, 15 to 30 min). The average follow-up period was 3.7 months. Of all patient, only 4 presented recurrence of retinitis after 8, 8, 9 and 2 months, respectively. Three of them received a successful second implant. All 39 eyes of the 26 patients presented healing of retinitis as shown by clinical improvement evaluated by indirect binocular ophthalmoscopy and retinography. Retinitis healed within a period of 4 to 6 weeks in all patients, with clinical regression signs from the third week on. Six (15.4 percent) eyes developed retinal detachment. None of the patients developed CMV retinitis in the contralateral eye. The intraocular implant proved to be effective in controlling the progression of retinitis for a period of up to 8 months even in patients for whom systemic therapy with either ganciclovir or foscarnet or both had failed. The intraocular sustained-release ganciclovir implant proved to be a safe new procedure for the treatment of CMV retinitis, avoiding the systemic side effects caused by the intravenous medications and improving the quality of life of the patients.

Implante de ganciclovir de liberación sostenida para el tratamiento de la retinitis por citomegalovirus (CMV) en pacientes con el síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida (SIDA): experiencia inicial en Venezuela / intravitreal ganciclovir sustained release device for the treatment af adquired inmunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS): associated cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in Venezuela

Evaluar la eficacia del implante de ganciclovir de liberación lenta sostenida para el tratamiento de la retinitis por citomegalovirus (CMV) en pacientes con el síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida (SIDA). Diez pacientes (10 ojos) con SIDA y retinitis por CMV asociada fueron incluidos en este estudio. A los ojos con retinitis por CMV activa se les realizo la implantación quirúrgica del deposito ganciclovir. Todos los ojos demostraron resolución de la retinitis por CMV. Ninguno de los ojos demostró progresión. La agudeza visual permaneció sin cambios en tres (30 por ciento) ojos, mejoró en seis (60 por ciento) ojos y disminuyo en uno (10 por ciento) ojos. Complicaciones quirúrgicas incluyeron hemorragia vítrea leve y astigmatismo. Desprendimiento de retina ocurrió en dos (20 por ciento) ojos luego de que la retinitis cicatrizó. El implante de ganciclovir de liberación sostenida ofrece muchas ventajas, comparadas con la terapia intravenosa o la inyección de ganciclovir intravítreo para el manejo de la retinitis por CMV en pacientes con SIDA