摘要
AIM:To investigate the etiology of ocular pathogens and to establish the various pathogens present in human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis(CMVR).METHODS:A total of 17 HIV-infected patients with concomitant eye disorders were enrolled.Patients were divided into CMVR group(10 patients,18 eyes)and non-CMVR group(7 patients,9 eyes)based on clinical manifestations and the presence of cytomegalovirus(CMV)-DNA in ocular specimens.The viral load of CMV was assessed using polymerase chain reaction in aqueous humor,vitreous fluid,and peripheral blood samples of patients in the CMVR group.Additionally,peripheral blood CD4^(+)T cell counts were measured in both groups.RESULTS:In the CMVR group,the CMV-DNA load in the vitreous and aqueous humor samples was substantially higher than in the peripheral blood samples(P<0.01).CMVDNA load in the aqueous humor and vitreous samples of the two eyes in the CMVR group was determined to be statistically significant(10 patients,16 eyes,P=0.018,0.012).Peripheral blood CD4^(+)T cell counts in the CMVR group were adversely linked with the CMV-DNA load in both the aqueous humor and peripheral blood(P=0.005,0.048).Compared with the non-CMVR group,the peripheral blood CD4^(+)T cell count in the CMVR group decreased significantly(P=0.014).The peripheral blood CD4^(+)T cell count exceeded 300 cells/μL in 85.71%of non-CMVR patients,whereas it was below 100 cells/μL in 90.00%of the CMVR group.The intraocular specimens of the patients who underwent CMVR testing did not include any additional infections.CONCLUSION:In HIV-associated CMVR patients,there may exist alternative,yet unidentified,infection pathways for intraocular CMV in addition to the conventional route.The substantial difference in CMV-DNA load between the eyes of most CMVR patients suggests that CMV may originate from different sources in each eye.The proportion of peripheral blood CD4^(+)T cells in HIV patients is negatively correlated with the quantity of CMV viruses in their eyes.The peripheral blood count of<100 cells/μL indicates a considerable increase in the risk of concurrent CMVR.Multi-ocular pathogen presentations are uncommon in HIV individuals with CMVR.
基金
Supported by the Self-funded Research Project of the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region(No.Z2016325).