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CMV retinitis, AIDS co-infection still a significant cause of morbidity, mortality
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Highly active antiretroviral therapy has had a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of patients infected with both AIDS and cytomegalovirus retinitis, but co-infection remains a significant cause of death, vision loss and other health complications, according to a recent study.
In a prospective, multicenter, observational study of 503 patients diagnosed with AIDS and cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, overall mortality during a 5-year period was 9.8 deaths per 100 person-years. Within the study cohort, mortality rates ranged from a high of 26.1 per 100 person-years among individuals with newly diagnosed retinitis to a low of 3 per 100 person-years among individuals with previously diagnosed retinitis and immune recovery.
Retinitis progression was highest among patients with newly diagnosed disease (28 per 100 person-years) compared with individuals with previously diagnosed disease and immune recovery (1.4 per 100 person-years). Rates of retinal detachment, immune recovery uveitis and vision loss followed similar patterns.
“Patients with CMV retinitis remain at increased risk for mortality, retinitis progression, complications of CMV retinitis and visual loss for at least 5 years, even among those with immune recovery from HAART,” the researchers wrote.
For more information:
- Jabs DA. Ophthalmology. 2010;117:2152-2161.