SUMMARY
Purpose:
To study the incidence and clinical findings of herpetic retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Material and Methods:
Retrospective study of patients with a diagnosis of AIDS and herpetic retinits, between January 1992 and January 1997.
Results:
Of 1,450 patients with a diagnosis of AIDS, 51 had a diagnosis of herpetic retinitis of which 29 (57%) with acute retinal necrosis (ARN) and 22 (43%) with progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN). Acute retinal necrosis was present in 29 patients (43%), 28 (96%) of whom were male. It was unilateral in 24 (60%) and bilateral in 8 (40%) of the 40 affected eyes. Decreased visual acuity was found in 36 eyes (90%), anterior chamber inflammation in 28 eyes (70%), keratic precipitates in 15 eyes (37.5%), posterior synechiae in 8 eyes (20%) and vitreous cells in 21 eyes (52.5%). Optic nerve involvement was present in 7 eyes (17.5%) and retinal vasculitis in 36 eyes (92.5%). Progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) occurred in 22 patients (43%), 20 (95%) of whom were male. It was unilateral in 17 (68%) patients and bilateral in 4 (32%) of the 25 affected eyes. Decreased visual acuity was noticed in 18 eyes (82%), anterior chamber inflammation in 8 eyes (36%), posterior synechiae in 2 eyes (9%) and vitreous cells in 6 eyes (27. 7%). The optic nerve was involved in 4 eyes (18%).
Conclusion:
Herpetic retinitis was diagnosed in 3.5% of patients with AIDS in the studied period. The acute retinal necrosis was the most common form (2%) followed by the progressive outer retinal necrosis syndrome (1.5%).
Key words:
Herpetic retinitis; AIDS