3.4. AIDS and Opportunistic Infections: CMV: A Herpes virus
Description
This article is from the AIDS FAQ, by Dan Greening with numerous contributions by others.
3.4. AIDS and Opportunistic Infections: CMV: A Herpes virus
Infection with CMV, a virus in the herpes family, may occur throughout
life. By age 50, about half of the general population has been exposed
to this virus, yet most people do not become ill. After the original
infection, the virus may lie dormant and reactivate itself if the
immune system becomes suppressed.
For people with HIV infection, CMV is one of the most frequent and
serious OIs they face. CMV retinitis, an inflammation of the
light-sensitive inner layer of the eye, is the most common CMV
infection and leads to blindness if left untreated. Infections also
may occur in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, brain, heart and other
organs.
Both intravenous ganciclovir and foscarnet are approved to treat CMV
retinitis. Lifelong maintenance on either treatment is required
because the drugs do not kill CMV, they merely slow down its ability
to grow. Even with therapy, the rate of relapse is high.
NIAID studies of CMV and other herpesviruses have shown that
intravenous foscarnet and ganciclovir are equally effective for CMV
retinitis, although foscarnet was associated with increased survival
for patients in the study. An ongoing trial is testing an oral form of
ganciclovir to prevent CMV disease. The oral form of the drug would be
much easier and safer for patients to take.
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