Cytomegalovirus retinitis is the most common ophthalmic infection in patients with AIDS, its incidence ranging from 20 to 30 percent in these subjects. Two drugs are currently used in the treatment of CMV retinitis, Ganciclovir and Foscarnet, despite a reported efficacy of 80 to 90 percent for each drug during the active stage of the disease, relapses frequently occur during maintenance therapy and progression of the retina involvement is seen in most cases. In vitro and in vivo preliminary data suggest that CMV disease refractory to monotherapy with Ganciclovir or Foscarnet alone may respond to a combination of these two drugs. In this paper we describe four AIDS cases with severe, recurrent CMV retinitis in whom the combination therapy was adopted. Our experience seems to show that combination therapy is well tolerated and may represent an effective method in the treatment of CMV retinitis, especially in cases that do not respond to single-drug therapy.
Combined ganciclovir and foscarnet therapy of recurrent cytomegalovirus and aggressive retinitis in AIDS
Francisci, D.;Cagini, C.;Mecozzi, F.;MENDUNO, Paola Santina;Preziosi, R.;Marchetti, M.;Fiore, C.;Stagni, G.
1995
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus retinitis is the most common ophthalmic infection in patients with AIDS, its incidence ranging from 20 to 30 percent in these subjects. Two drugs are currently used in the treatment of CMV retinitis, Ganciclovir and Foscarnet, despite a reported efficacy of 80 to 90 percent for each drug during the active stage of the disease, relapses frequently occur during maintenance therapy and progression of the retina involvement is seen in most cases. In vitro and in vivo preliminary data suggest that CMV disease refractory to monotherapy with Ganciclovir or Foscarnet alone may respond to a combination of these two drugs. In this paper we describe four AIDS cases with severe, recurrent CMV retinitis in whom the combination therapy was adopted. Our experience seems to show that combination therapy is well tolerated and may represent an effective method in the treatment of CMV retinitis, especially in cases that do not respond to single-drug therapy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
