[Ganciclovir (DHPG)--treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS]

The clinical course of 3 patients treated with the virostatic drug dihydroxypropoxymethylguanine (DHPG) is reported. With maintenance therapy the progression of retinitis was slow, but was not stopped. More rapid progression of retinitis could be observed after cessation of therapy because of DHPG-induced leukopenia. Therefore, consequent maintenance therapy should be the therapeutic aim. Under maintenance therapy, useful visual acuity could be maintained until death.