[Planimetric follow-up of cytomegalovirus retinitis treated with ganciclovir in patients with AIDS].

Abstract

In 28 cases of cytomegalovirus retinitis being treated with ganciclovir we examined the relative value of planimetry and conventional investigative methods, such as visual field examination and serial fundus photographs in determination of the development of retinitis. Planimetric evaluation was not possible in 11 of the 28 cases because of technical problems inherent in the method. In 17 cases we found no correlation between visual acuity, visual field and area of retinal necrosis evaluated by planimetry. This shows the low value of visual acuity tests and planimetric evaluation of routine fundus photographs in the examination of the development of common retinitis. In selected cases with primary visual acuity of less than 1/10 (e.g., in optic nerve involvement) the planimetry of fundus photographs seems to yield more information than the standard ophthalmological routine examinations.