Comparative analysis for the fundus characteristics of acquired immune deficiency syndrome with cytomegalovirus retinitis between first-visit and non-first-visit in ophthalmology

Abstract

Objective To comparatively analyze for the fundus characteristics of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) with cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) between first-visit and non-first-visit in ophthalmology. Methods A retrospective study was performed for 22 patients (41 eyes) diagnosed as CMVR with AIDS by ophthalmology in the Affiliated Municipal Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from July 2004 to September 2017. The patients were divided into two groups: one with the first-visit in ophthalmology (FVO) and the other with the first-visit in non-ophthalmology (FVNO). All patients underwent visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slit lamp microscope and indirect ophthalmoscope examinations. Thirty-nine eyes of 21 patients with clear refractive media were examined by color fundus photography, of which 5 patients were examined by FFA. Five patients examined by OCT and B-mode ultrasound. The CMVR were characterized as fulminant type or indolent type. All the 22 patients (41 eyes) except 2 patients (4 eyes) accepted highly active antiroviral therapy, and all patients were treated with ganciclovir intravenously. Nine patients (12 eyes) received intravitreal injection of ganciclovir, 7 patients (10 eyes) underwent vitrectomy because of retinal detachment, 6 patients (7 eyes) gave up surgery because of extensive retinal detachment, and the other 12 eyes did not undergo any eye surgery. All patients were followed for 6-58 months (average 23±39 months). The incidences and fundus characteristics of the patients with fulminant or indolent CMVR were compared and analyzed. Between the two groups, the difference of visual acuity and CD4+T cell count at the first vist and the last follow-up were analyzed by a t-test, and the macular involvement and spread of the two groups were compared by a chi-square test. Results Fulminant CMVR showed dense yellow-white necrotic lesions along the great vessels with or without satellite lesions, while indolent CMVR showed sparse yellow-white granular lesions with a little bleeding. The concomitant signs included frost-like dendritic vascular sheath, retinal artery occlusion and optic disc edema. Fourteen eyes of 7 patients in FVO group were fulminant, including 2 patients (2 eyes) with retinal artery occlusion and 1 patient (two eyes) with optic disc edema. In FVNO group, there were 27 eyes of 15 patients, including 21 eyes of 13 cases identified as fulminant type and 6 eyes of 4 patients as indolent type. In the fulminant type, there were 4 patients (6 eyes) with frost-like dendritic vascular sheath, 10 patients (12 eyes) with retinal artery occlusion and 4 patients (4 eyes) with optic disc edema. There was no significant difference in initial visual acuity (t=-1.534, P=0.133), but there was a significant difference in visual acuity at the last follow-up (t=-3.420, P=0.001). There was no significant difference in CD4+ T cells between the two groups at the first visit (t=-0.902, P=0.378). The proportions of macular involvement and 3-4 quadrant involvement in FVO group were significantly higher than those in FVNO group (χ2=7.552, 7.865; P=0.006, 0.005). Conclusion For AIDS patients with CMVR, the first-visit in ophthalmology showed more dense necrotic lesions involving macular and a wider range of lesions than the first-visit in non-ophthalmology. Key words: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome/complications; Cytomegalovirus retinitis; First-visit in ophthalmology; Fundus features