Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0021051 (immunodeficiency)
 71,517 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Ganciclovir and foscarnet are both effective for cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, but the benefits of either agent given alone are limited. A child infected with human immunodeficiency virus who had cytomegalovirus retinitis that progressed despite treatment with either agent alone received the combination of ganciclovir and foscarnet. This treatment resulted in a sustained clinical response.
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PMID:Treatment of aggressive cytomegalovirus retinitis with ganciclovir in combination with foscarnet in a child infected with human immunodeficiency virus. 131 78

Cytomegalovirus retinitis in the human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient currently requires almost daily and lifelong parenteral ganciclovir therapy. Self-preparation of ganciclovir is not an option in the majority of patients with decreased visual acuity or poor muscle coordination. Therefore, based on current stability data, patients usually receive a 5-day supply of reconstituted drug. This requirement is unfortunately associated with poor patient compliance. If the extended stability of ganciclovir was known, then more efficient regimens for outpatient therapy could be formulated. This study was designed to determine the stability of reconstituted ganciclovir between 7 and 28 days. Ganciclovir diluted with normal saline or 5% dextrose in water to final drug concentrations of 5 or 10 mg/ml was evaluated for stability by high-pressure liquid chromatography under different conditions of storage. Samples were stored at both 4 degrees C and -20 degrees C in polyvinyl chloride bags and at 4 degrees C in ADFuse syringes. Ganciclovir remained stable under these conditions for 28 days. On the basis of these data, we have recommended that patients receive a 2-week supply of reconstituted ganciclovir for parenteral outpatient therapy. We have observed high levels of patient compliance with this regimen and no unexpected progression of retinitis over a 5-month period in three patients who received the drug in this fashion.
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PMID:Extended stability of ganciclovir for outpatient parenteral therapy for cytomegalovirus retinitis. 131 95

Over the past two decades, the recognition of viral enzymes and proteins that can serve as molecular targets of drugs has revolutionized the treatment of viral infections. Beginning with acyclovir, a number of systemically administered agents which are both relatively safe and effective for the treatment of herpetic infections and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections have become widely available. Because of increased numbers of herpes virus infections, as well as the rising epidemic of HIV infections, the ophthalmologist is, more likely than ever before to be involved in the treatment of severe and frequent ocular infections caused by herpes viruses. In addition, the acute retinal necrosis (ARN) syndrome has been demonstrated to be caused by herpes viruses and a once rare retinal infection caused by cytomegalovirus is common in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this article, four systemic antiviral drugs (Vidarabine, Acyclovir, Ganciclovir, and Foscarnet) that have demonstrated usefulness in the treatment of ophthalmic disease are reviewed in detail with regard to their mechanisms, applications, effectiveness, and side effects.
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PMID:Systemic antiviral drugs used in ophthalmology. 132 32

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is the most common cause of blindness in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Ganciclovir, a guanosine nucleoside, has been found to be effective in the short-term treatment of CMV retinitis and in the delay of progression to recurrence of the disease. However, ganciclovir has no intrinsic activity against HIV, and patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome often require treatment with zidovudine, the only currently approved therapy for HIV infection. Both agents have been associated with dose-limiting granulocytopenia in such patients, and death from sepsis in the setting of profound decreases in absolute granulocyte counts has been reported. However, recent investigation suggests that with careful patient selection and monitoring, relatively safe concomitant therapy may be possible. This article reviews the toxicity issues that influence the decision to employ concomitant therapy with ganciclovir and zidovudine. An approach to dosing ganciclovir, including a schema for modifying or interrupting the zidovudine dosage based on hematologic status, is also presented. A prospective study is presently under way to determine whether combined therapy in selected patients leads to prolonged survival and a decreased incidence of recurrence of active CMV retinitis.
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PMID:Concomitant ganciclovir and zidovudine treatment for cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with HIV infection: an approach to treatment. 184 17

The clinical manifestations of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in persons with AIDS are described, and recent advances in the management of these syndromes with antiviral agents are reviewed. CMV infection is the most common serious opportunistic viral infection in AIDS patients. Clinical manifestations include chorioretinitis, gastroenteritis, hepatitis, pneumonia, CNS infection, adrenalitis, and a wasting syndrome. The diagnosis of CMV infection requires laboratory demonstration of a serologic response to the virus, detection of viral components or products, or isolation of the virus. Ganciclovir is an acyclic nucleoside analogue marketed for the treatment of CMV-related retinitis in immunocompromised hosts. After i.v. ganciclovir induction therapy, more than 80% of patients show improvement or stabilization of retinitis. Relapse is common in AIDS patients, however, and low-dose i.v. maintenance therapy is recommended. The most serious dose-limiting effect is neutropenia. Intravitreal injection of ganciclovir has been well tolerated and efficacious. Ganciclovir has shown some efficacy in the treatment of other life-threatening CMV infections, especially gastroenteritis, but data are limited. Ganciclovir-resistant strains have been reported. Foscarnet, a pyrophosphate analogue with activity against both human CMV and human immunodeficiency virus, is undergoing clinical trials. Foscarnet has shown promise in the therapy of CMV-related retinitis, but results for other CMV infections are disappointing. Nephrotoxicity is the major dose-limiting effect. AIDS patients with sight-threatening and rapidly progressive CMV-related retinitis should be treated with ganciclovir. Foscarnet may offer an alternative when it becomes available. More must be learned about the efficacy of these drugs in the treatment of CMV infection in patients with AIDS.
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PMID:Management of cytomegalovirus infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. 216 89

Cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, and herpes zoster are responsible for the majority of cases of viral retinitis. Herpes zoster also has been strongly incriminated as a causal agent in acute retinal necrosis. Effective chemotherapy exists for retinitis caused by herpes simplex and herpes zoster, along with acute retinal necrosis. Conventional antiviral therapy and immunomodulators are ineffective in the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with acquired immune deficiency disorder. Ganciclovir, a new antiviral agent, has significantly reduced visual morbidity in these patients. Recurrence of the infection is not uncommon while patients are on the drug or when the agent is discontinued, because ganciclovir is virostatic and does not stop viral replication in the retina. The inability to control this viral retinitis using presently available chemotherapy indicates a need to examine other therapeutic modalities.
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PMID:Management of viral retinitis. 285 86

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an important pathogen for the fetus, recipients of solid organ transplants, bone marrow allograft patients, individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus and other immunosuppressed patients. The clinical features of congenital cytomegalovirus infection as well as HCMV infection and HCMV disease in immunosuppressed transplant recipients are described. Diagnostic methods for HCMV monitoring are discussed from a clinical perspective. Antivirals as Ganciclovir and Foscarnet are used for induction and maintenance regimes for the treatment of HCMV-associated retinitis, pneumonitis, hepatitis, gastrointestinal involvement and neurological disorders. Drug resistance both to Ganciclovir and Foscarnet of HCMV strains isolated from immunosuppressed patients has already been reported. The development of rapid diagnostic tools for the detection of HCMV drug resistance is urgently required.
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PMID:[Cytomegaloviruses--clinical aspects and therapy]. 794 Apr 12

This 21-year-old male with hemophilia A developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). He had a history of numerous blood transfusions. Serum antibody titers became positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), when the patient was 18 years of age. Three years later, he developed CMV retinitis due to his immunosuppression. Ganciclovir (DENOSINE, TANABE SEIYAKU CO., LTD., Osaka, Japan) therapy given for 4 weeks produced a marked improvement in the ocular fundal findings, but the neurologic signs and symptoms, including headache, hypoesthesia, disorientation, and dementia became worse. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a diffuse high intensity area in the periventricular white matter and small focal or patchy lesions in the hippocampus, basal ganglia, midbrain, medulla oblongata and the nucleus dentatus. The patient died of HIV encephalopathy and CMV infection. Characteristic CMV intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed histologically in most sites of the brain including the hippocampus, white matter, basal ganglia, midbrain, medulla oblongata, nucleus dentatus and the retina. Infiltration by monocyte-macrophage and multinucleated giant cells, which are characteristic of HIV encephalopathy, were observed in the periventricular white matter and the hippocampus. In this patient, the neuroimaging findings were compatible with the neuropathologic observations. MR imaging proved useful in detecting the central nervous system (CNS) lesions of AIDS and CMV infection.
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PMID:Neuroimaging and neuropathologic findings in AIDS patient with cytomegalovirus infection. 806 93

A 2-year-old girl, who had prolonged thrush and spastic diplegia, was found to have a mother-to-child vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV). A brain computed tomography scan revealed a symmetrical calcification on the bilateral basal ganglia and periventricular white matter. She had an acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) encephalopathy of pure dominant pyramidal tract disorder without an intellectual deficit. Helper cell lymphocyte count (CD4) increased with the beginning of zidovudine (ZDV, also known as AZT) monotherapy but began to decrease after the 4th week to reach the baseline at 20th week. Zidovudine plus didanosine combination therapy was started at the 68th week, but because of intolerance, the combination was changed to ZDV plus lamivudine at the 98th week. By the 80th week, neither severe opportunistic infection nor deterioration of the neurological status was recognized, but chronic diarrhea appeared. The diarrhea advanced to the wasting syndrome at the age of 4 years and cytomegalovirus genome was confirmed in a biopsied specimen of the colon. Ganciclovir treatment was effective in stopping the diarrhea and increasing her bodyweight, but after the age of 5, resumption of diarrhea was followed by progressive emaciation and weakness. This work may provide some clues in treating children's AIDS.
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PMID:Encephalopathy and cytomegalovirus colitis in an AIDS child. 982 20

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is responsible for the most common viral opportunistic infection in persons with acquired immunodeficiency virus syndrome (AIDS). Clinical disease due to CMV has been recognized in up to 40% of patients with advanced HIV disease. The most common presentation is retinitis, although colitis, esophagitis, pneumonitis and neurological disorders are also reported frequently. CMV retinitis is usually diagnosed clinically, and serological testing for CMV immunoglobulin is useful to support the diagnosis. Parts of the gastrointestinal tract (esophagus and colon) are the most common extraocular sites of CMV infection in AIDS patients. Therapy with systemic agents, including intravenous ganciclovir, intravenous foscarnet, and intravenous cidofovir, is effective. Ganciclovir is associated mainly with hematological toxicity, while foscarnet and cidofovir are nephrotoxic. Intravitreal injections with these antiviral agents are also effective, but inconvenient, and there is a need for repeated injections. Intraocular implants that slowly release ganciclovir have been effective for both acute therapy and long-term maintenance, but the occurrence of contralateral ocular and extraocular disease is a serious concern. New agents, as for example an anti-sense agent against CMV, appear promising.
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PMID:Cytomegalovirus infection in patients with HIV infection. 1010 Apr 16


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