Long-term Follow-up of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in Non-HIV Immunocompromised Patients: Clinical Features and Visual Prognosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical features and long-term visual outcome of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and to determine factors that predict visual outcome.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with CMV retinitis without HIV infection were reviewed. Main outcome measures included clinical features, proportion of eyes with 6-month and final visual acuity (VA) <20/70 and <20/400, and odds ratios of factors associated with poor visual outcome.

RESULTS

A total of 20 eyes from 13 patients were included with a median follow-up time of 17 months. All had at least 6 months of follow-up except 1 patient who died from sepsis at 1 month. At presentation, 50% of eyes had VA <20/70 and 25% had VA <20/400. Zone 1 involvement occurred in 55% and vitreous haze ≥grade 2+ occurred in 25%. Recurrence occurred in 33.3% at a mean time of 6.4 ± 3.3 weeks after discontinuation of anti-CMV therapy. The retinal detachment rate was 21.7% per eye-year and mortality rate was 11.7% per person-year. At final visit, 60% had VA <20/70 and 35% had VA <20/400. Macular involvement was significantly associated with poor final VA <20/400 (odds ratio = 25.00, P = .016).

CONCLUSIONS

CMV retinitis without HIV infection was often aggressive at presentation. Significant intraocular inflammation was not uncommon. The long-term visual outcome was poor, especially in those with macular involvement.