cytomegalovirus retinitis

retinitis [ret″ĭ-ni´tis]

inflammation of the retina.

retinitis circina´ta (circinate retinitis) circinate retinopathy.

cytomegalovirus retinitis opportunistic infection of the retina by cytomegalovirus, seen in immunocompromised patients; symptoms include retinal necrosis and hemorrhage, leading to blindness.

exudative retinitis exudative retinopathy.

retinitis pigmento´sa a group of diseases, frequently hereditary, marked by progressive loss of retinal response (as recorded by the electroretinograph), retinal atrophy, attenuation of retinal vessels, and clumping of the pigment, with contraction of the field of vision. It may be transmitted as a dominant, recessive, or X-linked trait and is sometimes associated with other genetic defects. It may become manifest at the age of two or three years, or it may follow a slow course over a period of years. There is no successful treatment or cure for the condition. Early diagnosis allows the patient to prepare for the eventual loss of vision.

retinitis proli´ferans a condition that may result from intraocular hemorrhage, with neovascularization and the formation of fibrous bands extending into the vitreous from the retina; retinal detachment may result.

suppurative retinitis retinitis due to pyemic infection.

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retinitis, cytomegalovirus (CMV retinitis) 

A rare, chronic, diffuse infection of the retina caused by the cytomegalovirus (CMV), a member of the herpesvirus group. It affects people with an impaired immune system as a result of either AIDS, organ transplantation or chemotherapy for some malignancies such as leukaemia. The signs are whitish retinal lesions, which look granular (not fluffy, cotton-wool spots). These lesions progress into retinal necrosis with absolute visual field loss in that area. The lesions are usually accompanied by haemorrhages. Eventually the lesions coalesce and involve the entire fundus, resulting in complete visual loss. In the initial phase of the disease most patients are usually asymptomatic while those with symptoms will complain of floaters, blurred vision, photopsia, scotomas, metamorphopsia, etc. In some cases, retinal detachment follows the disease. Treatment with dihydroxy propoxymethyl guanine and ganciclovir produces some regression of the disease. See acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome.

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cytomegalovirus retinitis

Ophthalmology CMV infection of the eye, a common opportunistic infection in AIDS, a complication of disseminated CMV infection Clinical Retinal inflammation, blindness Management Antivirals–eg, foscarnet, cidofovir, gancyclovir, systemically and as a ganciclovir implant Prognosis Without treatment, retinal necrosis, vision loss