Immune recovery uveitis in patients with AIDS and cytomegalovirus retinitis after highly active antiretroviral therapy

PURPOSE: To estimate the incidence and describe the characteristics of immune recovery uveitis in patients with:acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cytomegalovirus retinitis treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: The records of all patients with AIDS and cytomegalovirus retinitis from 1995 to 1998 seen at the AIDS Ophthalmology Service of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions were reviewed, Eighty two patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy were identified. Thirty-three patients (40.2%) were classified as responders to highly active antiretroviral therapy, defined as an increase in CD4+ T-cell count by 50 cells/mu L, or more to a level of 100 cells/mu L, or more. RESULTS:Immune recovery uveitis occurred in six patients, Among the 33 patients with an immunologic response to highly active antiretroviral therapy, the incidence rate of immune recovery uveitis was 0.109/person-year. Ocular complications associated with immune recovery uveitis included cystoid macular edema (four:patients), epiretinal membranes (two patients), and optic disk neovascularization (one patient). CONCLUSIONS: Immune recovery uveitis was uncommon in our population but may have vision-impairing complications. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc, All rights reserved.