Viral-specific T cells for Cytomegalovirus retinitis following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A success story.

Cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) for a primary immunodeficiency is a rare but highly morbid condition with potential irreversible consequences despite optimal antiviral pharmacotherapy. Viral-specific T cells (VSTs) pose a promising and safe approach eradicating intractable viral disease. We describe the case of a 21-month-old male with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) and CMVR post HCT with sustained long-term virologic and clinical response after CMV-specific T-cell therapy. This case highlights the need to consider VST as an adjunct upfront strategy in refractory CMVR and for routine ophthalmologic screening and surveillance in high-risk patients post HCT.

Cytomegalovirus-Specific T Cells from Third-Party Donors Successfully Treated Refractory Cytomegalovirus Retinitis after Unrelated Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation.

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplants (UCBTs) are becoming increasingly common in the treatment of a variety of hematologic and nonhematologic conditions. The T cells from UCB are naïve T cells, which have not yet been exposed to antigens and therefore do not contain T cells with specific immune functions against viruses. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections occur in more than 80% of patients after UCBT compared to other types of transplantation. Anti-CMV medications are currently restricted, with ganciclovir, foscarnet, and valganciclovir being the most common in China; however, with limited efficacy and considerable side effects, all these drugs are susceptible to viral resistance. In recent years, cytomegalovirus-specific T cells (CMVST) have advanced the treatment of viral infections in immunodeficient patients. CMVST usually uses the same donor as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. CMVST should be administered to UCBT patients because of the absence of donors after UCBT. In China, there is no report on the use of CMVST to treat CMV infection after UCBT, and foreign reports are also limited. This paper reported a 20-year-old male patient with acute myeloid leukemia who developed cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) after umbilical cord blood transplantation. After ineffective viral treatment, he was treated with a third-party donor CMVST and was successfully transformed into CMV nucleic acid negative.

NEOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS FROM CYTOMEGALOVIRUS NECROTIZING RETINOPATHY IN PATIENTS AFTER HAPLOIDENTICAL HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION.

PURPOSE: To report the incidence and clinical features of neovascular complications from cytomegalovirus (CMV) necrotizing retinopathy in patients after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients (58 eyes) of CMV necrotizing retinopathy after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in our institute between January 2018 and June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed, and cases that developed neovascular complications during follow-up were identified and described. RESULTS: Two (2 eyes) cases that developed neovascular glaucoma from CMV necrotizing retinopathy were identified. Both of them manifested as granular peripheral retinitis, panretinal occlusive vasculitis, and some degree of intraocular inflammation, which were consistent with chronic retinal necrosis. Insidious progression of isolated immune-mediated occlusive vasculitis that could only be observed on fundus fluorescein angiography without active retinitis or intraocular inflammation was recognized to be the cause in one of two cases. CONCLUSION: Neovascular glaucoma developed in 5.1%/cases and 3.4%/eyes complicated by CMV chronic retinal necrosis and vasculitis in patients after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which warrants the needs for long-term follow-up. Immune-mediated CMV vasculitis could be an isolated manifestation in patients with a minimal immune deviation and may only be found on fundus fluorescein angiography, which emphasizes the importance of fundus fluorescein angiography on a regular basis during follow-up.

[Influent factors for treating procedure of cytomegalovirus retinitis after allogeneic bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

Objective: To explore clinical and laboratory factors that influencing treating procedure of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) after allogeneic bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods: This is a retrospective case series study. A total of 9 CMVR patients (15 eyes) between January 2016 and March 2017 were included in this study. All patients received intravenous or oral ganciclovir, together with intravitreous injection of ganciclovir alone or combined with foscanet sodium. One day before the first injection, aqueous humor samples from the affected eyes were collected, and CMV-DNA and interleukin-8 (IL-8) level were examined. Blood samples were acquired and CMV-DNA was examined too. Best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure (Goldmann), slit-lamp and fundus examination, ultra-wide fundus photography were performed before the first injection and every visit since then. Fifty eyes were divided into stop treating group (Group A) and continue-to-treat group (Group B) according to whether local treatment could be seized after loading phase. Image-Pro plus 6.0 was exploited to determine the area of CMVR in the retina, together with number of quadrants involved and whether macular was involved.Then the clinical and laboratory data were compared between two groups. ROC curve was used to calculate the cutoff values for quantitative factors that showed significant differences between two groups. Results: The interval time between HSCT and diagnosis of CMVR, visual acuity and CMV-DNA in the blood at baseline, area of CMVR and number of quadrants involved and whether macular was involved didn't show any difference between two groups. But the intraocular pressure (Z=-2.488, P=0.017), CMV-DNA (Z=-2.239, P=0.013) and IL-8 level (Z=-2.475, P=0.012) in aqueous humor at baseline, proportion of eyes with active inflammation in anterior (P=0.003) and proportion of eyes with ocular hypertension (P=0.021) in group B were significantly higher than those in group A. The cutoff values of intraocular pressure, CMV-DNA and IL-8 level in aqueous humor at baseline were 14.5 mmHg (P=0.013), 2.99×10(5) copy/ml (P=0.025) and 447.8 pg/ml (P=0.013), respectively. Conclusion: Higher intraocular pressure, CMV-DNA and IL-8 in aqueous humor at baseline, especially combined with active inflammation in anterior segment and ocular hypertension suggest longer treating period and more times of intravitreous injections. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 740-745).

FDA-Approved Oligonucleotide Therapies in 2017.

Oligonucleotides (oligos) have been under clinical development for approximately the past 30 years, beginning with antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and apatmers and followed about 15 years ago by siRNAs. During that lengthy period of time, numerous clinical trials have been performed and thousands of trial participants accrued onto studies. Of all the molecules evaluated as of January 2017, the regulatory authorities assessed that six provided clear clinical benefit in rigorously controlled trials. The story of these six is given in this review.

Infiltración leucémica y retinitis por citomegalovirus en paciente con leucemia linfoblástica aguda tipo T en remisión completa / Leukaemic infiltration and cytomegalovirus retinitis in a patient with acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia in complete remission

CASO CLÍNCO:Mujer de 43 años con leucemia linfoblástica T en remisión completa, remitida por sospecha de necrosis retiniana herpética/retinitis leucémica en el ojo izquierdo (OI). La agudeza visual era de unidad y el fondo de ojo presentaba retinitis y hemorragias en periferia. Ante estudio hematológico negativo, recibió tratamiento por retinitis por citomegalovirus. Tras mejoría inicial, aparece papilitis en el OI y restricción de la motilidad en el ojo derecho. La resonancia y punción lumbar confirman la recidiva leucémica. DISCUSIÓN: La afectación ocular puede preceder a la recaída hematológica, por eso debe sospecharse ante sintomatología ocular. Además, son frecuentes las infecciones oportunistas en inmunodeprimidos

CLINICAL CASE: A 43-year-old woman in remission from T- cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was referred to our hospital with suspected leukaemic retinitis. The funduscopic examination of her left eye revealed multifocal yellow-white peripheral retinitis and retinal haemorrhage. The patient was treated for cytomegalovirus retinitis after an extended haematological investigation showed no abnormalities. Initial improvement was followed by papillitis in the left eye and motility restriction in the right eye. Magnetic resonance and lumbar puncture confirmed leukaemia relapse. Specific treatment was initiated with complete resolution. DISCUSSION: Ocular involvement may precede haematological leukaemia relapse. Physicians should be alerted when ocular symptoms appear in these cases

Uveitis as an initial manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a multisystem disease that can involve the human eyes. Using ophthalmic examination records from January 2006 to November 2015, we retrospectively reviewed all patients who were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in our hospital. The study was performed at a tertiary referral center in southern Taiwan. Data included age, gender, ophthalmic examinations, systemic conditions, CD4 cell counts, course, and treatment. Eleven patients were identified as having AIDS with uveitis as their presenting manifestation. All were men, with a mean age of 39.5 ± 11.4 years (range 24-56). The mean CD4+ T-cell counts were 91.7 ± 50.3 cells/µl (range 27-169). Ocular diagnoses included cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in five patients, ocular syphilis in four patients, and ocular toxoplasmosis in two patients. Uveitis resolved in all patients after medical treatment. However, a retinal detachment developed in two eyes in CMV retinitis and one eye in ocular syphilis. Ocular manifestations are among the most common clinical features in patients with HIV/AIDS who have varying clinical presentations that affect almost all ocular structures. This study demonstrated that ocular findings could be an initial manifestation of an underlying disease. Awareness of ocular lesions in HIV/AIDS is important for early recognition and management.

Retinitis por citomegalovirus en un paciente con VIH / Cytomegalovirus retinitis in a HIV patient

La retinitis por citomegalovirus es la infección ocular más frecuente en pacientes con un recuento de linfocitos CD4 inferior a 200 por µL. El aspecto oftalmoscópico de las lesiones se caracteriza, en la mayoría de los casos, por infiltrados retinianos resultados de la necrosis retiniana producida por citomegalovirus y el edema en asociación con hemorragias. Estas lesiones se disponen, por lo general, siguiendo las arcadas vasculares temporales con invasión hacia la mácula. Se presentó una paciente de 24 años de edad, femenina, blanca, ama de casa, con antecedentes patológicos personales oculares sin datos de interés, y antecedentes patológicos personales generales de ser diagnosticadas con VIH. Hace cuatro años que comenzó con tratamiento antirretroviral, y tuvo cambios de tratamiento en dos ocasiones. El último fue impuesto en mayo del año 2011, con el cual presentó mala adherencia terapéutica, y comenzó desde entonces a presentar disminución de su peso corporal de forma marcada en breve período de tiempo. Refiere que desde hace unos meses comenzó a presentar una disminución progresiva de la agudeza visual en el ojo derecho, acompañado de visión borrosa. Adquiere gran importancia este caso, ya que ante la supervivencia de los pacientes con sida, va a ser cada vez más frecuente la aparición de las afecciones oculares relacionadas con esta enfermedad. Dentro de ellas se encuentran las infecciones oportunistas mayores como la retinitis por citomegalovirus(AU)

Retinitis caused by cytomegalovirus is the most frequent opportunistic infection in patients with a lymphocyte count CD4 less 200 µL. The ophthalmological aspect of the lesions in most of cases is characterized by retinal infiltrates derived from the retinal necrosis caused by cytomegalovirus and the edema associated to hemorrhages. In general, these lesions are arranged in the same form as the temporal vascular arcades and go into the macula. Here is a 24 years-old Caucasian female patient , housewife with a history of ocular problems with no interesting data and positive diagnosis of HIV, She began an antiretroviral treatment four your ago, which was changed twice. The last one was administered on May 2011 and the therapeutic adherence was inadequate. Since then, she began losing weight significantly in a short period of time. Some months ago, she reported a progressive reduction of the visual acuity in the right eye and blurred vision. This case is very important because, due to the survival rate of AIDS patients, the occurrence of ocular diseases related to it will become more frequent. One of them is major opportunistic infection such as cytomegalovirus retinitis(AU)

Treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis with cytomegalovirus-specific T-lymphocyte infusion.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is a potentially blinding infection that affects immunocompromised patients who are unable to generate a T-cell response against the organism. Infusion of CMV-specific leukocytes has been shown to be effective in patients with systemic CMV infection, especially those resistant to standard therapies. The authors report a case of a patient with CMV viremia with progressive retinitis in whom infusion of third-party donor-derived CMV pp65-specific T cells alone prompted resolution of CMV retinitis. This case suggests a potential role for CMV-specific leukocyte infusion in the treatment of CMV retinitis, especially in cases resistant or refractory to antiviral therapies.

Citomegalovirus: de la primoinfección a la retinitis / Cytomegalovirus: from primoinfection to retinitis

Una vez sucedida la primoinfección, el citomegalovirus se establece latente en las células mieloides progenitoras, y la reactivación viral intermitente procedente de macrófagos activados o células dendríticas es controlada por una fuerte respuesta viral específica de células CD4 y CD8. La retinitis por citomegalovirus está caracterizada por una necrosis retinal como consecuencia de efectos citopáticos virales que ocurre en pacientes en quienes la función de células T está comprometida, como resultado de trasplantes de órganos, SIDA o tratamiento inmunosupresor. El diagnóstico de retinitis por citomegalovirus puede ser confirmado por amplificación del ADN viral en muestras de humor acuoso. El tratamiento de la retinitis por citomegalovirus se basa en la actualidad en la reconstitución del sistema inmune con la terapia TARGA y combinado a una terapia anticitomegalovirus (ganciclovir, foscarnet, cidofovir y valganciclovir). El citomegalovirus está también implicado en dos formas de enfermedad del segmento anterior en adultos inmunocompetentes llamado uveítis anterior por citomegalovirus y queratitis endotelial por citomegalovirus(AU)

Once first infection occurs, cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains latent in myeloid progenitor cells and the intermittent viral relapsing proceeding from activated macrophages and dendritic cells, is controlled by strong specific viral response CD4cell y CD8-cell. CMV retinitis is characterized by spreading retinal necrosis due to viral cytopathic effect occurs in patients who have impaired T-cell function as a result of transplantation, AIDS, or immuno-suppressive treatment. The diagnosis of CMV retinitis can be confirmed by PCR amplification of viral DNA in aqueous. Updated treatment for CMV retinitis is based on the immune system recovery with highly activity anti-retroviral therapy combined with anti CMV therapy (ganciclovir, foscarnet, cidofovir and valganciclovir). CMV is also implicated in two forms of anterior segment disease in immuno-competent adults, namely CMV anterior uveitis and CMV corneal endotheliitis.(AU)

Citomegalovirus: de la primoinfección a la retinitis / Cytomegalovirus: from primoinfection to retinitis

Una vez sucedida la primoinfección, el citomegalovirus se establece latente en las células mieloides progenitoras, y la reactivación viral intermitente procedente de macrófagos activados o células dendríticas es controlada por una fuerte respuesta viral específica de células CD4 y CD8. La retinitis por citomegalovirus está caracterizada por una necrosis retinal como consecuencia de efectos citopáticos virales que ocurre en pacientes en quienes la función de células T está comprometida, como resultado de trasplantes de órganos, SIDA o tratamiento inmunosupresor. El diagnóstico de retinitis por citomegalovirus puede ser confirmado por amplificación del ADN viral en muestras de humor acuoso. El tratamiento de la retinitis por citomegalovirus se basa en la actualidad en la reconstitución del sistema inmune con la terapia TARGA y combinado a una terapia anticitomegalovirus (ganciclovir, foscarnet, cidofovir y valganciclovir). El citomegalovirus está también implicado en dos formas de enfermedad del segmento anterior en adultos inmunocompetentes llamado uveítis anterior por citomegalovirus y queratitis endotelial por citomegalovirus.

Once first infection occurs, cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains latent in myeloid progenitor cells and the intermittent viral relapsing proceeding from activated macrophages and dendritic cells, is controlled by strong specific viral response CD4cell y CD8-cell. CMV retinitis is characterized by spreading retinal necrosis due to viral cytopathic effect occurs in patients who have impaired T-cell function as a result of transplantation, AIDS, or immuno-suppressive treatment. The diagnosis of CMV retinitis can be confirmed by PCR amplification of viral DNA in aqueous. Updated treatment for CMV retinitis is based on the immune system recovery with highly activity anti-retroviral therapy combined with anti CMV therapy (ganciclovir, foscarnet, cidofovir and valganciclovir). CMV is also implicated in two forms of anterior segment disease in immuno-competent adults, namely CMV anterior uveitis and CMV corneal endotheliitis.

[Retinal detachment in HIV-infected patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis].

The authors present their own clinical experience in three HIV-infected patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis aged from 8 to 36 years. Detailed analysis of the results of physical and laboratory examinations is provided. Given short life expectancy for these patients, the authors pose a deontological question as to whether or not active treatment of retinal detachment in patients with AIDS and CMV retinitis is reasonable.

Decrease of murine cytomegalovirus-induced retinitis by intravenous delivery of immediate early protein-3-specific siRNA.

PURPOSE: Retinitis induced by both human and murine cytomegaloviruses following immunosuppression is characterized by progressive loss of retinal architecture, due to necrosis of virus-infected cells as well as widespread apoptosis of uninfected bystander cells. Because small inhibitory RNA molecules (siRNA) can reduce murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) gene expression and thereby inhibit virus replication in vitro, we tested siRNAs directed against MCMV immediate early protein-3 (IE-3) to determine if MCMV-induced retinitis could be alleviated in vivo. METHODS: Immunosuppressed Balb/c mice (2.0 mg methylprednisolone acetate every 3 days beginning on day -2) were infected with 5 × 10(3) pfu of the K181 strain of MCMV via the supraciliary route. At day 2 post infection, mice were treated with various doses of IE-3-specific siRNA ranging from 0.1 nmol to 10 nmol, in a volume of 20 µL PBS via tail vein injection. Injected eyes were collected at various times post inoculation and subjected to plaque assay for virus titer, MCMV antigen staining, H&E staining, TUNEL assay, and Western blot for MCMV IE-3 protein. RESULTS: Small but significant amounts of fluorescently labeled IE-3-specific siRNA localized to the RPE layer 48 hours after intravenous injection. IE-3-specific siRNA significantly reduced virus titers at all concentrations tested (ranging from 0.1 nmol to 10 nmol), but the most potent effect of siRNA was observed at a dose of 1 nmol. We also observed that IE-3-specific siRNA produced a substantial decrease in MCMV titers and a substantial reduction in bystander cell apoptosis over the time course of virus infection. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic administration of IE-3-specific siRNA could alleviate MCMV retinitis by inhibiting virus replication and subsequent death of uninfected retinal cells.

[Clinical characteristic and treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in 80 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. METHODS: Retrospective case-series study. The clinical and laboratory data of 80 AIDS patients (118 eyes) with findings of CMVR were collected from Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center from December 2006 to December 2011. The relationship between CMVR and cellular immunity, the high risk factor, clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of CMVR were analyzed in this study. χ(2) test was used to check the incidence of CMVR in different CD4(+) T lymphocyte count groups. RESULTS: There was 80 AIDS patients (118 eyes) totally, 71 males and 9 females. Their age was from 18 to 60 years old, which mean value was (38 ± 10) years old. The incidence in the group of CD4(+) T lymphocyte count over 100 cells/µl was lower than the two groups of CD4(+) T lymphocyte count less than 100 cells/µl (χ(2) = 15.567, 32.469; P = 0.00,0.00). CD4(+) T lymphocyte count was always ranged from 0 to 141 cells/µl in CMVR patients. It was less than 50 cells/µl in 81.3% cases. In 10.0% AIDS patients, CMVR was the first manifestation. In 25% AIDS patients(26 eyes), lesions in retina was found by routine eye examination. In 54.2% patients, the best corrected visual acuity was less than 0.3. Retinal necrosis was involvement near the posterior pole in 62.5% CMVR patients. The visual acuity of 51 eyes was improved after treatment within 94.1% cases which were treated within 3 months. However, BCVA of 35 eyes decreased or with less change within 42.9% cases which were treated after symptoms appeared 3 months. The anti-CMV treatment included induction and maintenance of ganciclovir or foscarnet stopped when the CD4(+)T lymphocyte count was more than 150 cells/µl in 3 continuous months. 86.9% eyes were cured clinically. Retinal detachment, immune reconstitution uveitis and complicated cataract was found in 13.1%, 12.1% and 20.5% cases respectively. Optic atrophy occurred in 6 eyes. The visual acuity of 28.9% eyes was 0.05 or less, 71.3% of that caused by retinal detachment, cataract and optic atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: CD4(+) T lymphocyte count reduction is the risk factor for CMVR. HAART and anti-CMV therapy will cure the CMVR clinically.Routine eye examinations should be performed in all AIDS patients to get early diagnosis of CMVR or other opportunistic infections to avoid vision loss, especially in those CD4(+) T lymphocyte count lower than 100 cells/µl.

Clinical features of ocular herpetic infection in an italian referral center.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe clinical manifestations of herpetic ocular infection caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in a referral center in Northern Italy. METHODS: This retrospective study included 241 patients with herpetic ocular infection referred to the tertiary-care Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Service, at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan, from January 2006 to August 2013. The main clinical parameters evaluated were etiology, clinical features, ocular complications, and recurrences of the infection. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-one patients (144 female and 97 male) were followed for a mean time of 24.9 ± 18.2 months (range, 12-72). One hundred eighty-nine (78.4%) patients had HSV, 45 (18.7%) had VZV, and 7 (2.9%) had CMV infection. In the HSV and VZV groups, the most frequent manifestation was keratitis (41.3% and 31.1%, respectively), followed by anterior uveitis (33.3% and 28.9%, respectively). The most common CMV presentation was retinitis (71.4%). The main complications observed were glaucoma (38.1% in HSV group, 40% in the VZV group, and 28.6% in the CMV group) and cataract (27.5% in HSV group, 26.7% in VZV group, and 28.6% in CMV group), whereas retinal detachment frequently occurred in patients with retinitis (50%, 42.9%, and 40% among HSV, VZV, and CMV patients, respectively). Recurrences were observed in 65.1%, 51.1%, and 28.6% of patients with HSV, VZV, and CMV, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Manifestations of herpetic ocular disease in our patients are comparable with other published series. However, the rate of ocular complications and recurrences during follow-up were higher compared with other series.

A possible coincidence of cytomegalovirus retinitis and intraocular lymphoma in a patient with systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To present a possible coincidence of cytomegalovirus retinitis and intraocular lymphoma in a patient with systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year-old woman presented with decreased visual acuity associated with white retinal lesions in both eyes. A history of pneumonia of unknown aetiology closely preceded the deterioration of vision. Five years previously the patient was diagnosed with follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She was treated with a chemotherapy regimen comprised of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristin, and prednisone with later addition of the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab. She experienced a relapse 19 months later with involvement of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, and commenced treatment with rituximab and 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan. A second relapse occurred 22 months after radioimmunotherapy and was treated with a combination of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and mitoxantrone followed by rituximab. The patient experienced no further relapses until the current presentation (April, 2010).Pars plana vitrectomy with vitreous fluid analysis was performed in the right eye. PCR testing confirmed the presence of cytomegalovirus in the vitreous. Atypical lymphoid elements, highly suspicious of malignancy were also found on cytologic examination. Intravenous foscarnet was administered continually for three weeks, followed by oral valganciclovir given in a dose of 900 mg twice per day. In addition, the rituximab therapy continued at three monthly intervals. Nevertheless, cessation of foscarnet therapy was followed by a recurrence of retinitis on three separate occasions during a 3-month period instigating its reinduction to the treatment regime after each recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Cytomegalovirus retinitis is an opportunistic infection found in AIDS patients as well as in bone marrow and solid organ transplant recipients being treated with systemic immunosuppressive drugs. This case presents a less common incidence of cytomegalovirus retinitis occurring in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We demonstrated a possible coexistence of cytomegalovirus retinitis and intraocular lymphoma in this particular patient. The final diagnosis was based on clinical manifestations together with the course of uveitis and its response to treatment alongside the results of vitreous fluid analysis. This report highlights the importance of intraocular fluid examination in cases with nonspecific clinical manifestations. Such an examination allows for the detection of simultaneously ongoing ocular diseases of differing aetiologies and enables the prompt initiation of effective treatment.

Emerging concepts in the management of acute retinal necrosis.

Acute retinal necrosis (ARN), also known as Kirisawa-type uveitis, is an uncommon condition caused by infection of the retina by one of the herpes family of viruses, most typically varicella zoster virus or herpes simplex virus and less commonly cytomegalovirus. Clinical diagnosis can be challenging and is often aided by PCR-based analysis of ocular fluids. Treatment typically involves extended use of one or more antiviral agents. Long term retinal detachment risk is high. We review the literature on ARN and present an approach to the diagnosis and management of this serious condition.