[Adult T cell leukemia with cytomegalovirus retinitis]

A 49-year old female in the course of chemotherapy for adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) noticed blurred vision and visual field defect in her right eye on February 26, 1991. Ophthalmoscopic findings showed exudative necrotizing retinitis with white exudative patches and scattered retinal hemorrhages in both eyes. CMV was isolated from the urine by the shell vial cell culture assay. Anti-viral therapy was commenced using ganciclovir and gamma-globulin, which are rich in anti-CMV antibodies. The exudative lesions were absorbed gradually. The ocular signs and symptoms agreed with the patient's systemic immunosuppressed T cell function state. CMV retinitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of retinitis in immunocompromised patients. CMV retinitis will certainly be found more frequently in accordance with the increasing number of immunocompromised hosts who have received immunosuppressive therapy or transplantation.