Kaposi's sarcoma of the conjunctiva and CMV-retinitis in AIDS

The number of AIDS patients is still increasing. In 30-50% of these patients ocular lesions occur, which are of diagnostic and prognostic significance. If the life-span of AIDS patients lengthens in the future, adequate treatment of the ocular conditions will become increasingly important. The two most important ocular manifestations AIDS are CMV-retinitis and Kaposi's sarcoma of the conjunctiva. DHPG, a new virustatic for human cytomegalovirus, appears promising as treatment for the severe CMV-retinitis, which leads rapidly to blindness. Two case histories illustrate the preliminary results obtained with DHPG treatment. Kaposi's sarcoma of the conjunctiva is relatively benign is AIDS and can be treated successfully by surgical excision, radiotherapy, cryotherapy or local injections of cytostatics.