cmv retinitis…

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eye, cmv retinitis, antibodies, cytomegalovirus, cmv, member of a group of herpes-type viruses, cause many diseases, retinitis, an inflammation, the retina, the eye, cytomegalovirus, cmv, very common, majority of adults have antibodies to cmv in blood, indicating they have been infected, by age 40, cmv produces no symptoms, serious cmv infections, impaired immunity, immunocompromised hosts, aids, people undergoing chemotherapy, weakens the immune system, receiving immunosuppressive drugs, bone marrow, organ transplants, vulnerable, one serious cmv infection is cmv retinitis, cause blindness, retinitis, begins in one eye, progresses, eye, progressive retinal destruction, lead to blindness in 4 to 6 months, continuous treatment, become worse, causing blindness, the virus becomes resistant, drugs, that the drugs, no longer effective, the patient's immune system has deteriorated further, patients, cmv retinitis, a 25-40% of developing retinal detachment, the retina detaches, nerves, the eye, causing blindness, systemic cmv infection, 25% of people, aids develop cmv retinitis, aids patients, a cd4 count of less than 100 cell/ mm3, examined periodically, retinitis, none, the symptoms listed below, an hiv positive individual, visual disturbances should seek medical attention, arrange, an exam, cmv retinitis have no symptoms, floaters, small spots, in the vision, decreased visual acuity, loss of peripheral vision, blurred vision, blind spots, cmv retinitis is diagnosed, a standard ophthalmologic exam, dilation, the pupils, indirect ophthalmoscopy, signs of cmv retinitis, diagnosis of cmv infection, tests, blood, urine culture, a blood, urine sample is cultured, grow the virus, in the laboratory, results take, three weeks, cmv pcr, blood test that detects the presence, cmv, in the blood, cmv antigenemia test, blood test detects the viral particles on the surface of white blood cells, indicate virus is replicating, inactive, cmv serology, test detects cmv antibodies, in the blood, most people have two types of antibodies, igg, indicate old infection, igm, indicate new infection, tissue biopsy, culture, a biopsy, the tissue, lung, stomach, cmv is thought to have infected is cultured, in the laboratory, grow the virus, tissue, examined, in the laboratory, evidence of viral infection, presence of cmv viral particles, objective of treatment, prevent progression, lead to blindness, therapy must be continued indefinitely, blindness occurs, intravenous ganciclovir, foscarnet, cidofovir have all been shown to improve cmv retinitis, once the patient is improving, drugs, taken orally instead, cmv is resistant to these drugs, ganciclovir, deplete white blood cells, cidofovir, foscarnet, cause kidney damage, ganciclovir, foscarnet, intravitreal implants, intravitreal implants, small capsules of medications surgically inserted, eye, deliver a very high dose of medication, eye, oral anti-cmv agents, the implants, must be changed every eight months, implants have been shown to be beneficial in reducing progression, of cmv retinitis, fomivirsen, a drug, approved, injected, eye, progression, the disease is common, therapy continues, antiviral medications stop the replication, the virus but, not destroy it, cmv is immunosuppressive, worsen the symptoms of other causes, immunosuppression, retinal detachment, blindness, low white blood cell count, use of ganciclovir, kidney impairment, use of foscarnet, symptoms worsen, not improve, new symptoms develop, symptomatic cmv infection, occurs only in immunocompromised individuals, avoiding the primary cause of immune deficiency, aids, therefore, prevent symptomatic cmv infection, individuals, hiv should begin anti-hiv medications, individuals undergoing chemotherapy, taking anti-rejection medications, transplant, undergoing cortisone therapy should report any visual abnormalities to doctor.