Polymerase chain reaction analysis of aqueous humor specimens in the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients.

PURPOSE

To determine the value of the polymerase chain reaction analysis of aqueous humor specimens as a tool to diagnose cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients.

METHODS

In all, 63 AIDS patients were evaluated in this study. They were sorted into two diagnostic categories: eyes with active cytomegalovirus retinitis and eyes without active cytomegalovirus retinitis. The aqueous humor and blood samples were collected and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

A total of 49 patients had active cytomegalovirus retinitis (77.8%) and 14 patients had inactive cytomegalovirus retinitis or normal fundus (22.2%). The mean average of patients was 39 years (range: 22-59). The majority of patients were male (90.5%). Cytomegalovirus DNA was detected in 46 and 7 of 49 aqueous and blood samples, respectively, from AIDS patients with active cytomegalovirus retinitis. We did not detect cytomegalovirus DNA in any of the eyes without active cytomegalovirus retinitis. The sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction in the detection of cytomegalovirus in aqueous humor and blood samples was 93.5% and 14.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The polymerase chain reaction analysis is a safe, highly specific, and sensitive method to diagnose cytomegalovirus retinitis.