Ocular manifestations of AIDS.

Abstract

AIDS causes severe depression of the immune system through selective infection of CD4+ T lymphocytes. As such, certain infections and neoplasms occur in these patients often with ocular involvement. Among these, cytomegalovirus retinitis is by far the most common and remains a leading cause of visual loss. Intravenous ganciclovir and foscarnet, the two Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for cytomegalovirus retinitis, are effective in most cases, but recurrences are the rule. In addition, these virustatic drugs require lifelong administration and dose-limiting toxicity affects many of these patients. Ongoing investigation into current and alternative therapies has produced some promising developments which are discussed here. Also reviewed are recent findings associated with other opportunistic pathogens and neoplasms that affect the eye in AIDS, including varicella-zoster virus, Toxoplasma gondii, and lymphoma.