-transparent.png){kind=logo}
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is the most common cause of blindness in AIDS. Twenty patients were treated with a 21-day course of foscarnet therapy by continuous infusion. Response to therapy was good in eight (47%) of 17 evaluable patients; partial arrest of progression was observed in eight (47%); and no response was obtained in one (6%). Foscarnet therapy did not lead to suppression of urinary excretion of CMV in four of 12 patients who nonetheless had improvement in retinal lesions. Toxic effects, especially reversible renal failure, were common, with blood creatinine increase in 50% and dialysis in two patients. Renal toxicity occurred primarily during the third week of therapy. Anemia (hemoglobin less than 80 g/L) occurred in 10 patients after a mean of 14.5 +/- 5.1 days of therapy and required transfusion. Review of this study and of data from a previous case series, however, was inconclusive regarding the additional benefit of a third week of therapy. Maintenance therapy was given to seven patients. Four had recurrence of CMV retinitis at a mean interval of 62 +/- 52 days. Only one patient has maintained prolonged remission on maintenance (greater than 24 weeks). Toxicity on the maintenance protocol included anemia (two of seven patients) and increased creatinine blood levels (one of seven patients). Zidovudine therapy in six patients did not contribute to increased toxicity of induction or maintenance therapy. Drug levels during continuous infusion were stable for individual patients but showed wide inter-patient variability. Peak levels of post-maintenance infusion varied both within and between patients.
M M Fanning, and
S E Read, and
M Benson, and
S Vas, and
A Rachlis, and
V Kozousek, and
C Mortimer, and
P Harvey, and
C Schwartz, and
E Chew
June 1991,
The Journal of infectious diseases,
M M Fanning, and
S E Read, and
M Benson, and
S Vas, and
A Rachlis, and
V Kozousek, and
C Mortimer, and
P Harvey, and
C Schwartz, and
E Chew
January 2005,
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet,
M M Fanning, and
S E Read, and
M Benson, and
S Vas, and
A Rachlis, and
V Kozousek, and
C Mortimer, and
P Harvey, and
C Schwartz, and
E Chew
February 1997,
AIDS (London, England),
M M Fanning, and
S E Read, and
M Benson, and
S Vas, and
A Rachlis, and
V Kozousek, and
C Mortimer, and
P Harvey, and
C Schwartz, and
E Chew
December 1985,
Annals of internal medicine,
M M Fanning, and
S E Read, and
M Benson, and
S Vas, and
A Rachlis, and
V Kozousek, and
C Mortimer, and
P Harvey, and
C Schwartz, and
E Chew
August 1993,
The Journal of infectious diseases,
M M Fanning, and
S E Read, and
M Benson, and
S Vas, and
A Rachlis, and
V Kozousek, and
C Mortimer, and
P Harvey, and
C Schwartz, and
E Chew
November 1991,
American family physician,
M M Fanning, and
S E Read, and
M Benson, and
S Vas, and
A Rachlis, and
V Kozousek, and
C Mortimer, and
P Harvey, and
C Schwartz, and
E Chew
February 1994,
The British journal of ophthalmology,
M M Fanning, and
S E Read, and
M Benson, and
S Vas, and
A Rachlis, and
V Kozousek, and
C Mortimer, and
P Harvey, and
C Schwartz, and
E Chew
April 1995,
Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics,
M M Fanning, and
S E Read, and
M Benson, and
S Vas, and
A Rachlis, and
V Kozousek, and
C Mortimer, and
P Harvey, and
C Schwartz, and
E Chew
September 1992,
The Journal of infectious diseases,
M M Fanning, and
S E Read, and
M Benson, and
S Vas, and
A Rachlis, and
V Kozousek, and
C Mortimer, and
P Harvey, and
C Schwartz, and
E Chew
January 1992,
Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes,
