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Treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis with intravitreal ganciclovir: a case report


OT Edema
AR Rutzen

Abstract

A 60-year-old male on chemotherapy for multiple myeloma developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in one eye. He was commenced on intravenous ganciclovir. This regime had to be modified, however, in view of the fact that he had bone marrow neoplasia (multiple myeloma) and was on chemotherapy. Since intravenous ganciclovir causes bone marrow aplasia, this could worsen his clinical state rapidly. He therefore had a ganciclovir implant inserted into his vitreous. This was to prevent the systemic effects of ganciclovir on the bone marrow. This paper highlights the possibility of CMV retinitis in immunocompromised non-AIDS adults, the clinical manifestation of CMV retinitis in non-AIDS immunocompromised patients, and the relative advantage of intravitreal sustained release ganciclovir implants over systemic treatment in selected patients.

Nigerian Journal of Ophthalmology Vol. 13(2) 2005: 67-70

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eISSN: 2468-8363
print ISSN: 0189-9171