Treatment for cytomegalovirus infection in HIV-infected patients

Purpose: To report the outcome of treatment for cytomegalovirus infection in HIV-infected patients. Cases: This study was made on 35 cases who were infected by HIV and who were treated by systemic valganciclovir in the past 66 months. The series comprised 34 males and one female. The age ranged from 26 to 67 years, average 44 years. Infection by cytomegalovirus virus (CMV) was already manifest in 15 cases and was absent in 20 cases. Twenty cases had retinitis and 3 cases had systemic manifestations including pneumonia. Results: There was no recurrence of CMV infection in 12 out of 15 cases (80%) after treatment with valganciclovir. There was no manifestation of CMV in 20 cases who had no symptoms. Positive rate for CMV decreased from 80% to 3%. Number of antigen-positive cells decreased significantly from 8.0±21.1 to 0.09±0.52 (p = 0.00002). Suppression of bone marrow developed in one case, leukopenia and renal dysfunction in 3 cases each. Conclusion: Systemic valganciclovir was effective for CMV infection and antigenemia in HIV-infected patients. Care is needed about systemic side effects.