Cytomegalovirus retinitis: a manifestation of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Two homosexual males with the "gay bowel syndrome' experienced an acute unilateral loss of vision. Both patients had white intraretinal lesions, which became confluent. One of the cases had a depressed cell-mediated immunity; both patients ultimately died after a prolonged illness. In one...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of ophthalmology 1983-06, Vol.67 (6), p.372-380
Main Authors: Friedman, A H, Orellana, J, Freeman, W R, Luntz, M H, Starr, M B, Tapper, M L, Spigland, I, Roterdam, H, Mesa Tejada, R, Braunhut, S, Mildvan, D, Mathur, U
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - complications
Adult
AIDS/HIV
Cytomegalovirus - isolation & purification
Cytomegalovirus Infections - etiology
Cytomegalovirus Infections - pathology
Fluorescein Angiography
Homosexuality
Humans
Male
Retina - pathology
Retinitis - etiology
Retinitis - microbiology
Retinitis - pathology
Vitreous Body - microbiology
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Summary:Two homosexual males with the "gay bowel syndrome' experienced an acute unilateral loss of vision. Both patients had white intraretinal lesions, which became confluent. One of the cases had a depressed cell-mediated immunity; both patients ultimately died after a prolonged illness. In one patient cytomegalovirus was cultured from a vitreous biopsy. Autopsy revealed disseminated cytomegalovirus in both patients. Widespread retinal necrosis was evident, with typical nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions of cytomegalovirus. Electron microscopy showed herpes virus, while immunoperoxidase techniques showed cytomegalovirus. The altered cell-mediated response present in homosexual patients may be responsible for the clinical syndromes of Kaposi's sarcoma and opportunistic infection by Pneumocystis carinii, herpes simplex, or cytomegalovirus.
ISSN:0007-1161
1468-2079
DOI:10.1136/bjo.67.6.372