Predictors for Recurrence of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in HIV-Negative Patients

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the incidence of and predictive factors for recurrent cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients. Methods: A retrospective review of HIV-negative patients who were newly diagnosed with CMVR between January 2005 and February 2019. Results: Of 28 patients (44 eyes), 35.9% of eyes had a recurrence of CMVR after discontinuation of anti-CMV therapy. The incidence of CMVR recurrence was 17 per 100 eye-years. The factors significantly associated with CMVR recurrence were eyes with retinitis area of more than 25% (P = .013), absence of vitreous haze (P = .003), neutropenia at presentation (P = .001), and absence of systemic immunosuppression therapy prior to presentation (P = .002). Conclusion: Eyes with a large area of retinitis, absence of vitreous haze, and neutropenia at presentation are predictive of CMVR recurrence while receiving systemic immunosuppression prior to CMVR presentation has a lower risk of CMVR recurrence.