Mortality in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome treated with either foscarnet or ganciclovir for cytomegalovirus retinitis

Article Abstract:

AIDS patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis who take foscarnet may survive longer than those who take ganciclovir, but foscarnet may have no greater effect on the progression of retinitis than ganciclovir. Of 234 AIDS patients with CMV retinitis, 107 were given foscarnet and 127 were given ganciclovir. Many of the patients were also taking zidovudine, and they could switch from foscarnet to ganciclovir, or vice versa, if they experienced any side effects. After 19 months, 51.2% of the patients taking ganciclovir had died, compared to 33.6% of those taking foscarnet. Patients taking foscarnet survived an average of 12.6 months, while those taking ganciclovir survived an average of 8.5 months. The progression of CMV retinitis was similar in both groups. The difference in mortality may be due to the fact that patients taking ganciclovir could not tolerate zidovudine as well as those taking foscarnet.

---

Treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Article Abstract:

Several drugs exist in several different formulations for treating cytomegalovirus retinitis. This viral infection of the retina strikes about one-third of all AIDS patients in the US. Ganciclovir has been in use since 1984 and it was followed by foscarnet and cidofovir. Usually the drugs are given intravenously or orally, but an initial cure can be followed by relapse. This could be due to drug resistance on the part of the virus. Ganciclovir is available as an intraocular implant. Combination therapy seems to be better than monotherapy, but could increase the number of side effects.

Retinal diseases

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Approaches to the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis: ganciclovir and foscarnet. Foscarnet therapy of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS
• Abstracts: Future directions in the management of cytomegalovirus infections
• Abstracts: Foscarnet therapy for ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with AIDS. The use of corticosteroids in Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
• Abstracts: Combined ganciclovir and recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients
• Abstracts: Cytomegalovirus colitis and wasting. Clinical use of ganciclovir for cytomegalovirus infection and the development of drug resistance

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.