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Retinal calcifications in cytomegalovirus retinitis
D W Faber1, J A Crapotta, C A Wiley
1Department of Opthalmology, University of California, San Diego.
Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in AIDS patients can cause intraretinal calcifications. These healed lesions appear as plaque-like and refractile retinal findings, confirmed by histopathology.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is a known complication in immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
- Understanding the long-term sequelae of CMV retinitis is crucial for managing patients with compromised immune systems.
Observation:
- Clinical examination of healed CMV retinitis in three AIDS patients revealed distinct focal, yellow-white, plaque-like lesions.
- Small, refractile retinal lesions were also observed in areas of previous retinitis.
Findings:
- Histopathologic analysis confirmed that the plaque-like lesions observed clinically were intraretinal calcifications.
- This study provides a direct correlation between clinical fundus appearance and histological findings in healed CMV retinitis.
Implications:
- The identification of intraretinal calcifications as a hallmark of healed CMV retinitis aids in diagnosis and monitoring.
- This correlation is clinically important for understanding the progression and resolution of CMV infection in the retina of AIDS patients.