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Exp Eye Res 2021 Jun 4:108651. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Department of Biology, Viral Immunology Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, 30303, Georgia; Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, 30322, Georgia. Electronic address:

Pyroptosis is a caspase-dependent programmed cell death pathway that initiates and sustains inflammation through release of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 following formation of gasdermin D (GSDMD)-mediated membrane pores. To determine the possible pathogenic contributions of pyroptosis toward development of full-thickness retinal necrosis during AIDS-related human cytomegalovirus retinitis, we performed a series of studies using an established model of experimental murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) retinitis in mice with retrovirus-induced immunosuppression (MAIDS). Initial investigations demonstrated significant transcription and translation of key pyroptosis-associated genes within the ocular compartments of MCMV-infected eyes of mice with MAIDS. Read More

Quant Imaging Med Surg 2021 Jun;11(6):2634-2641

Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of laser therapy in the prevention of retinal detachment in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR).

Methods: A total of 96 eyes from 80 patients with AIDS and CMVR who received anticytomegalovirus (anti-CMV) treatment in the ophthalmology and infection centers of Beijing YouAn Hospital, between June 2016 and August 2018 were retrospectively investigated. The patients were randomly divided into a nonlaser group (50 eyes from 43 patients), who were treated with anti-CMV therapy, and a laser group (46 eyes from 37 patients), who were treated with a fundus laser method to close the retinopathy area after commencing the maintenance stage of anti-CMV treatment. Read More

Cytokine 2021 Aug 30;144:155596. Epub 2021 May 30.

Viral Immunology Center, Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address:

Interleukin-1α (IL-1α) is an alarmin involved in the recruitment of macrophages and neutrophils during tissue inflammation. IL-1α can undergo cleavage by proteases, such as calpain-1, that enhances IL-1α binding to its receptor, although proteolytic cleavage is not necessary for biological activity. Macrophages and neutrophils are involved in the retinal inflammation associated with development of AIDS-related human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) retinitis. Read More

Microorganisms 2021 May 21;9(6). Epub 2021 May 21.

Department of Ophthalmology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea.

We evaluated the incidence and characteristics of eyes with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis according to the occurrence of cystoid macular edema (CME) and identified the risk factors of its occurrence. Patients diagnosed with CMV retinitis and examined using optical coherence tomography were classified according to the development of CME. The CME group was further divided according to the presence of active retinitis at the time of CME development. Read More

Acta Ophthalmol 2021 May 24. Epub 2021 May 24.

Stanford University, Byers Eye Institute, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

Purpose: To compare neonatal eye screening using the red reflex test (RRT) versus the wide-field digital imaging (WFDI) system.

Methods: Prospective cohort study. Newborns (n = 380, 760 eyes) in the Maternity Ward of Irmandade Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo hospital from May to July 2014 underwent RRT by a paediatrician and WFDI performed by the authors. Read More

Adv Ther 2021 Jun 21;38(6):3362-3372. Epub 2021 May 21.

Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.1 Dongjiaomin Lane, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.

Introduction: The present study aimed to analyze the clinical features of ocular pathology in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) combined with syphilis.

Methods: A total of 129 patients with AIDS and syphilis who first visited the Department of Ophthalmology in Beijing YouAn Hospital between 2012 and 2019 were included in the study. All patients underwent ophthalmologic examinations, such as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit lamp, intraocular pressure, dilated fundus examination, and color fundus photography as well as systemic examinations related to AIDS and syphilis. Read More

Semin Ophthalmol 2021 May 19:1-6. Epub 2021 May 19.

Inherited Retinal Disorders Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.

Antisense oligonucleotides (AON) are synthetic single-stranded fragments of nucleic acids that bind to a specific complementary messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence and change the final gene product. AON were initially approved for treating cytomegalovirus retinitis and have shown promise in treating Mendelian systemic disease. AON are currently being investigated as a treatment modality for many ophthalmic diseases, including inherited retinal disorders (IRD), inflammatory response and wound healing after glaucoma surgery, and macular degeneration. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 May 13;14(5). Epub 2021 May 13.

Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India

Metastatic endophthalmitis (ME) is rare form of secondary uveitis commonly prevalent in immunocompromised patients. A 55-year-old immunocompetent woman presented with painful decrease in left eye vision (referred to us as cytomegalovirus retinochoroiditis). Ocular examination revealed diffuse yellowish-white retinitis lesion (diagnosed as subretinal abscess on macular optical coherence tomography). Read More

Nepal J Ophthalmol 2020 Jul;12(24):339-346

Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Gaushala, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Introduction: Other than well-known herpetic retinopathies like acute retinal necrosis, progressive outer retinal necrosis and cytomegalovirus retinitis, there are few reports on atypical forms of viral retinitis caused by herpes virus from around the world.

Cases: Presenting symptom was sudden onset of diminution of vision in all 6 cases. Mean duration of symptoms at presentation was 7. Read More

J Bras Nefrol 2021 May 3. Epub 2021 May 3.

Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Hospital do Rim, Departamento de Nefrologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is a rare manifestation of CMV invasive disease and potentially threatening to vision in immunocompromised individuals. Clinical suspicion is fundamental since it is an unusual entity with a progressive and often asymptomatic installation over a long period. The authors report a 70-year-old man with diabetic nephropathy who underwent a kidney transplant (KT) in August 2014 with good clinical evolution. Read More

Int Ophthalmol 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, TC Istanbul Yeni Yuzyil University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

Purpose: Different and various system complications and late effects may occur after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). It was aimed to obtain information about the frequency of ophthalmologic complications and their relationship with treatment.

Methods: This retrospective study includes 104 children who underwent HSCT between February 2019 and June 2020 at the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Read More

Ophthalmol Retina 2021 Apr 20. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

Department of Ophthalmology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY. Electronic address:

Objective: To describe ocular outcomes in eyes with CMV retinitis treated with adoptive immunotherapy using systemic administration of CMV-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CMV-CTLs) DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study SUBJECTS: Patients with active CMV retinitis evaluated at a tertiary care academic center METHODS: Treatment of CMV retinitis with either CMV-CTLs or standard-of-care therapy with systemic and/or intravitreal antiviral therapy.

Main Outcome Measures: The electronic medical record was reviewed to determine baseline characteristics, treatment course, and ocular outcomes, including: best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), treatments administered (CMV-CTLs, systemic antivirals, intravitreal antivirals), resolution of CMV retinitis, any occurrence of immune recovery uveitis, cystoid macular edema, and/or retinal detachment.

Results: Seven patients (of which 3 had bilateral disease; i. Read More

Int Ophthalmol 2021 Apr 22. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul Tip Fakultesi Goz Hastaliklari A.D. Capa, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey.

Purpose: To analyze predisposing conditions in Turkish patients with CMV retinitis and to compare HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients.

Methods: We reviewed medical charts and ocular images of 41 patients with CMV retinitis diagnosed between 1996 and 2019.

Results: Eleven patients (27%) had HIV infection and 30 were immunocompromised from diverse causes. Read More

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2021 29;8(3):002350. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Catharina Ziekenhuis, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Case Description: A 28-year old woman receiving thiopurine treatment for Crohn's disease presented with a systemic primo cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection affecting the gut (colitis), liver (hepatitis), lungs (pneumonitis) and eyes (retinitis). Secondary to this systemic infection, she developed splenomegaly, pancytopenia and lymphadenopathy. Anti-viral treatment resulted in complete resolution of clinical, biochemical and radiological abnormalities within 6 weeks. Read More

Am J Ophthalmol 2021 Apr 9. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Members of the SUN Working Group are listed online at ajo.com.

Purpose: To determine classification criteria for cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis.

Design: Machine learning of cases with CMV retinitis and 4 other infectious posterior/ panuveitides.

Methods: Cases of infectious posterior/panuveitides were collected in an informatics-designed preliminary database, and a final database was constructed of cases achieving supermajority agreement on diagnosis, using formal consensus techniques. Read More

South Afr J HIV Med 2021 19;22(1):1193. Epub 2021 Mar 19.

Department of Infectious Diseases, La Rabta Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.

Background: Ocular involvement is a common complication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Knowledge about this topic in Tunisia is limited.

Objective: To investigate ophthalmic manifestations in patients living with HIV in Tunisia. Read More

Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2021 Apr 1:1-5. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Department of Ophthalmology, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand.

: Infectious uveitis is one of the most visually devastating causes of uveitis worldwide and accounts for 19.6% of all cases of uveitis in New Zealand. With the burgeoning use of intravitreal injections, there has been a commensurate increase in the number of injection-related complications and reports of infectious uveitis following their administration in recent years. Read More

Intervirology 2021 Mar 31:1-5. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Iranian Research Center For HIV/AIDS, Tehran, Iran.

Objectives: The aim of present work was to assess cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia in Iranian human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-infected patients with a CD4+ count <100 cells/mm3 and to explore whether CMV DNA loads correlate with CD4+ cell counts or associated retinitis.

Methods: This study was conducted at the AIDS research center in Iran on HIV-1-infected patients with CD4+ count <100 cells/mm3, antiretroviral therapy-naive, aged ≥18 years with no previous history of CMV end-organ disease (CMV-EOD).

Results: Thirty-nine of 82 patients (47. Read More

Trials 2021 Mar 18;22(1):218. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Chongqing Public Health Medical Center, 109 Baoyu Road, Shapingba District, Chongqing, 400036, China.

Background: Cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) is an important opportunistic infection (OI) occurring mainly in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and has the potential to cause severe visual impairment and blindness among AIDS patients. Subsequent to the adoption and implementation of widespread antiretroviral therapy (ART), the prognosis of AIDS-associated CMVR has been substantially improved. Nevertheless, the equivocal clinical evidence as regards the optimal timing for ART initiation in patients with an established CMVR diagnosis is required. Read More

Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2021 Mar 18:1-3. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Department of Ophthalmology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.

: Among severely immunosuppressed patients resistant or refractory cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is not uncommon, and is potentially blinding in the affected eye. Immunotherapy using CMV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) is an emerging and promising alternative for the control of resistant or refractory CMV retinitis. However, highly purified CMV-CTLs are still not available in the majority of medical institutions in China because the generation of CMV-CTLs is labor intensive, time-consuming and expensive. Read More

Semin Ophthalmol 2021 Mar 18:1-6. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Retina and uveitis services, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Mithu Tulsi Chanrai Campus, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

To describe the course of posterior subhyaloid precipitates (PSPs) accompanying active retinitis. : Retrospective study of three retinitis cases associated with PSPs and literature review. : Cases 1 and 2 were Toxoplasma retinochoroiditis. Read More

Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep 2021 Jun 4;22:101055. Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Purpose: To describe a case of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Retinitis in an immunocompetent patient following Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant (DII).

Observations: Retrospective chart review of a single patient. An 80-year-old immunocompetent male presented with floaters in his left eye 10 weeks after his DII. Read More

Adv Ther 2021 05 17;38(5):2294-2301. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of anti-cytomegalovirus (anti-CMV) therapy at different stages on retinal detachment in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR).

Methods: Ninety-seven patients with AIDS and CMVR diagnosed and treated at the Ophthalmology and Infection Center of Beijing You'an Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, from November 2017 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Of the 138 eyes included, 30 eyes with concomitant retinal detachment were enrolled as the study subjects. Read More

J Neurovirol 2021 04 15;27(2):364-366. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

Department of Neurology, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is common worldwide, but is usually a subclinical or self-limited infection in immunocompetent patients. On the contrary, most of the ocular and central nervous system involvement occurs in immunosuppressed patient, and usually has severe consequences. Ocular manifestations of CMV infection are frequent in immunosuppressed patients (notably keratouveitis, retinitis and retinal branch angiitis), but a few cases of optic neuropathy (mostly papillitis) have been reported in the literature in immunocompetent patients. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2021 Mar 13;22:e928659. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Sarawak General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Sarawak, Malaysia.

BACKGROUND Good syndrome (thymoma with immunodeficiency) is a frequently missed and forgotten entity. It is a rare cause of combined B and T cell immunodeficiency in adults. To date, fewer than 200 patients with Good syndrome have been reported in the literature. Read More

Am J Ophthalmol 2021 Jul 22;227:25-34. Epub 2021 Feb 22.

Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Bologna (FB, MA), Bologna, Italy.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and complications of ocular graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in a large single-center study.

Design: Retrospective observational case series.

Methods: This study included 283 patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) between 2005 and 2020. Read More

Biochem Pharmacol 2021 Mar 20;185:114485. Epub 2021 Feb 20.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China. Electronic address:

Since the 1950s, great efforts have been made to develop antiviral agents against many infectious diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Among the list of nearly 106 antiviral agents approved in the past five decades, Prof. Erik De Clercq has contributed to the development of 7 antiviral drugs: tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Viread®) for HIV and HBV treatment, tenofovir alafenamide (Vemlidy®) for HIV and HBV treatment, brivudine (Zostex®) for HSV-1 and VZV treatment, valacyclovir (Valtrex®) for HSV and VZV treatment, adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera®) for HBV treatment, stavudine (Zerit®) for HIV treatment, and cidofovir (Vistide®) for treating HCMV retinitis in AIDS patients. Read More

Indian J Ophthalmol 2021 03;69(3):628-629

Department of Vitreo.Retina, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Indian J Ophthalmol 2021 03;69(3):623-628

Vitreo Retinal Department, K. B. Haji Bachooali Charitable Ophthalmic and ENT Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features, course, and clinical outcomes of eyes with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in immunosuppressed patients of different etiologies.

Methods: This was a retrospective observational study from a single ophthalmic tertiary care center. The patients included referrals from the nodal cancer center and the local human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment clinic. Read More

Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol (Engl Ed) 2021 Feb 9. Epub 2021 Feb 9.

Fundación Oftalmológica de Santander - FOSCAL, Santander, Colombia; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia.

Background: Non-infectious retinal disease, even in the HAART era, continues to be one of the most common diagnoses in patients with HIV, with prevalences of up to 27% of cases. This study aims to characterize the association between demographic variables and their role. as a risk factor for the development of non-opportunistic non-infectious retinal disease in patients with HIV/AIDS METHODS: An integrative review of the literature was carried out according to Arksey O'Malley's approach, based on the PICO methodology and following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) recommendations; An exhaustive search was carried out in databases of articles that were filtered using established criteria, with their extraction and analysis carried out qualitatively. Read More