[Ophthalmologic manifestations in early and late stages of AIDS]

In a prospective study of 101 patients with HIV infection and a medium CD4 lymphocyte cell count of 350 x 10(6)/l and a retrospective study of the records of 79 AIDS patients, we compared the first ocular symptoms in HIV-infected patients to the CD4 count. In Walter-Reed stages 2-4 (n = 101) we found sicca syndrome in 9.2%, in 52% lens opacities in the cortex and only in less than 1% HIV-related angiopathy of the retina. In Walter Reed stages 5-6 (n = 79), 26% of the AIDS patients developed CMV retinitis, 33% HIV angiopathy of the retina and only 1% retinal toxoplasmosis. The average CD4 lymphocyte cell count was never better than 100 x 10(6). Lens opacities in HIV-infected patients could be an early ophthalmological symptom of HIV infection.