Cytomegalovirus retinitis in the post-cART era

To review the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) in the post-combined antiretroviral era (cART) era.

Although cART has dramatically reduced CMVR incidence and morbidity in the HIV population, CMVR continues to cause significant vision loss in both HIV and non-HIV patients, especially amongst patients without immune reconstitution. Advances in imaging including ultra-widefield fundus and autofluorescence imaging, optical coherence tomography, and adaptive optics may reflect CMVR activity; however, the diagnosis remains a clinical one. There have been minimal advances in therapy, with several agents no longer available due to market concerns.

Despite reduced incidence and morbidity in the post-cART HIV population, CMVR continues to cause vision loss amongst HIV and non-HIV patients. Diagnosis remains primarily clinical, and therapy centers upon immune reconstitution along with systemic and/or intravitreal antivirals. Further studies are necessary to determine whether advanced imaging can influence management, and whether novel antiviral agents or adoptive immune transfer have a role in treatment of drug-resistance CMVR.