Ocular pathology in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Abstract

The gross and microscopic ocular findings were prospectively studied in 38 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive subjects undergoing postmortem examination. Pathologic lesions were detected in 27 patients (71%), including cytomegalovirus retinitis in 7, cytoid bodies in 6, cryptococcosis in 6, and choroidal histoplasmosis, mycobacteriosis, choroidal lymphoma, optic nerve demyelination, and microglial nodule formation in the optic nerve in 1 patient each. Of the abnormal ocular findings, 67% were detected only microscopically.