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To evaluate own experience with the diagnosis and treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in HIV negative patients with immunodeficiency.Retrospective study and case reports.In the Centre for diagnosis and treatment of Uveitis 1869 patients with uveitis we have examined from June 2003 to June 2012. CMV retinitis was diagnosed in 7 patients (1 woman and 6 men) according to the typical clinical findings and history of immunodeficiency. In 2 atypical findings was the diagnosis confirmed by determination of DNA pathogen in vitreous sample (a patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma) or by positive serology (CMV in leukocytes - indolent form of CMV retinitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus). In 8 cases we found fulminant form, in 1 case indolent form of CMV retinitis. The average age of patients was 39,1 years (18-51 years old), ratio of men to women 6 : 3. In 6 of 9 cases we noticed bilateral retinitis. The average period of observation in our study was 15,8 months (1-48 months). Five of our patients underwent bone marrow transplantation, 2 patients were treated with systemic immunosuppressive drugs (colitis ulcerosa, systemic lupus erythematosus) and 2 patients had chemotherapy for lymphoma. The initiation or modification of treatment (gancyklovir p.o./i.v., foscarnet i.v.) was consulted and coordinated with others specialists. After initiation of treatment we followed-up 7 patients. In 4 eyes of 3 patients (31 %) the improvement of visual acuity was documented, in 5 eyes of 5 patients (38 %) the visual acuity was stabilized. The worsening of vision in 4 eyes of 3 patients (31 %) was caused by complications without any connection to virostatic therapy. All of our patients, who underwent bone marrow transplantation, died within 12 months since the diagnosis of CMV retinitis was determined.The diagnosis of CMV retinitis only in 9 cases (0,48% of all uveitic patients) confirms the rare occurrence of this retinitis. The important tool to the diagnosis of CMV retinitis is the history of immunodeficiency. In an atypical findings, the analysis of intraocular fluids or serological tests could help to the final diagnosis. The occurrence of CMV retinitis signify a very unfavourable prognosis for patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation and these patients died within 12 months since CMV retinitis has been diagnosed. The management of the therapy requires close interdisciplinary cooperation.

CMV retinitis is the most serious ocular complication of AIDS. Introduction of the combination antiretroviral therapy markedly reduced the occurrence of CMV retinitis, on the other hand it brought a new ocular complication - CMV uveitis. CMV uveitis is an immunopathological inflammatory reaction associated with the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, which is a side effect of successfully initiated cART. These two forms of CMV ocular complications differ in pathogenesis, symptomatology and therapy. The CMV retinitis is treated with anti-CMV virostatics whereas the therapy of CMV uveitis is based on attenuation of the inflammatory reaction by administration of corticosteroids. The optimal prevention of both complications is an early initiation of cART before the CD4+ T lymphocytes drop below 200/microl.

Necrotizing herpetic retinopathies are serious, usually rapidly progressive diseases of retina. Three well defined syndromes can be outlined: acute retinal necrosis, progressive outer retinal necrosis and CMV retinitis. Two cases of acute retinal necrosis, where the clinical picture was probably influenced by the corticosteroid use are described. The overview of clinical manifestation and therapy of these syndromes is given.

The authors describe histological changes of the retina and chorioid in cytomegalovirus retinitis in a patient with manifest AIDS who died after a severe opportunic infection. Consistent with data in the literature, they describe in addition to necrotic changes also inflammatory manifestations in the retina and chorioid and the presence of intranuclear inclusions typical for CMV infection.