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Published on: July 9, 2014
Risk Factors for Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in a National Survey in Sweden
Joanna von Hofsten1,2, Madeleine Zetterberg1,3
1Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Purpose:
To investigate predisposing immunosuppressive conditions causing cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVr) and risk factors for delayed diagnosis in patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2018 in the Swedish population of 10 million.
Results:
Sixty-three consecutive patients (100 eyes) were diagnosed with CMVr. The most common immunosuppressive state predisposing for CMVr was hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (27%) and hematological malignancy (24%). Two patients (3.2%) had no other predisposing factor than diabetes mellitus (DM). Patients with delayed diagnosis (≤30 days) were older than those with earlier diagnosis, mean age 68.7 (±9.8) and 48.8 (±17.6), respectively, p = .001. Signs of intraocular inflammation (IOI) were seen in 42 (70%) of cases and more common in delayed than early diagnosis, 16 (89%) and 21 (60%) respectively (p = .03).
Conclusion:
Delayed diagnosis was more common in older individuals with signs of IOI. DM may be a risk factor for CMVr, and clinical signs can be mistaken for diabetic retinopathy.
