Long Term Therapy of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis with Ganciclovir in a Child with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Cytomegalovirus retinitis is the most severe ophthalmological complication of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (aids). Ganciclovir must be given continuously to control progression of the disease or relapse typically occurs. Data in children are limited; this report describes a nine...

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Main Authors: Scott A Halperin, G Robert La Roche
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1993-01-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1993/576891
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author Scott A Halperin
G Robert La Roche
author_facet Scott A Halperin
G Robert La Roche
author_sort Scott A Halperin
collection DOAJ
description Cytomegalovirus retinitis is the most severe ophthalmological complication of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (aids). Ganciclovir must be given continuously to control progression of the disease or relapse typically occurs. Data in children are limited; this report describes a nine-year-old boy with transfusion-acquired aids who was treated with ganciclovir for 23 months for control of cytomegalovirus retinitis. The retinal disease was exacerbated when ganciclovir was temporarily withheld because of presumed drug toxicity, and improved with re-institution of therapy. When ganciclovir was finally discontinued because of complete loss of vision, the patient rapidly deteriorated and died; widespread cytomegalovirus infection was found at autopsy. Subcapsular cataracts appearing during therapy were thought to be a toxic effect of ganciclovir. Ganciclovir can be effective in controlling cytomegalovirus retinitis in children; however, similarities in laboratory findings may lead to confusion between systemic drug toxicity and disease progression.
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spelling doaj-art-87c0a411b3244980a92ee10ce8cf0ab82025-08-20T03:38:05ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Infectious Diseases1180-23321993-01-0141152010.1155/1993/576891Long Term Therapy of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis with Ganciclovir in a Child with Acquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeScott A Halperin0G Robert La Roche1Departments of Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, and Microbiology, Dalhousie University, CanadaDepartments of Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, and Microbiology, Dalhousie University, CanadaCytomegalovirus retinitis is the most severe ophthalmological complication of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (aids). Ganciclovir must be given continuously to control progression of the disease or relapse typically occurs. Data in children are limited; this report describes a nine-year-old boy with transfusion-acquired aids who was treated with ganciclovir for 23 months for control of cytomegalovirus retinitis. The retinal disease was exacerbated when ganciclovir was temporarily withheld because of presumed drug toxicity, and improved with re-institution of therapy. When ganciclovir was finally discontinued because of complete loss of vision, the patient rapidly deteriorated and died; widespread cytomegalovirus infection was found at autopsy. Subcapsular cataracts appearing during therapy were thought to be a toxic effect of ganciclovir. Ganciclovir can be effective in controlling cytomegalovirus retinitis in children; however, similarities in laboratory findings may lead to confusion between systemic drug toxicity and disease progression.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1993/576891
spellingShingle Scott A Halperin
G Robert La Roche
Long Term Therapy of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis with Ganciclovir in a Child with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases
title Long Term Therapy of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis with Ganciclovir in a Child with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
title_full Long Term Therapy of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis with Ganciclovir in a Child with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
title_fullStr Long Term Therapy of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis with Ganciclovir in a Child with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
title_full_unstemmed Long Term Therapy of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis with Ganciclovir in a Child with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
title_short Long Term Therapy of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis with Ganciclovir in a Child with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
title_sort long term therapy of cytomegalovirus retinitis with ganciclovir in a child with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1993/576891
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