Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0344232 (blurred vision)
 2,072 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Approximately one-third of all AIDS patients develop cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. Symptoms begin with blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, and dark spots in the eye that obstruct vision. HIV-infected persons with CD4 counts below 100 should be tested twice a year for CMV. Oral ganciclovir (Cytovene) is a preventive option approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If diagnosed with CMV, a regimen of the antiviral drugs foscarnet and ganciclovir is initiated either as monotherapy or in combination. Side effects of combination therapy are greater than monotherapy and the treatment takes longer. Direct ganciclovir injections into the eye and ganciclovir implants are other options but are not FDA-approved. Other eye diseases can also occur, such as tumors, infections, and neuro-ophthalmic disorders.
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PMID:Detecting CMV retinitis: know what to look for. Treatment is effective but not pleasant. 1136 48

There are several treatment options now available for patients with CMV retinitis, a sight-threatening viral infection of the eye, and the benefits and drawbacks of each are detailed. Vitrasert implants are the top choice, selected by nearly half of all people with CMV retinitis. The implants can cause blurred vision for up to four weeks, and retinal detachment is a potential side effect. Physicians also recommend systemic CMV treatment, generally IV ganciclovir, to accompany the implant. Cidofovir (Vistide), another IV therapy, is time-consuming to administer and has severe side effects. ISIS 2922, the experimental drug fomivirsen, is a promising treatment that is currently in advanced trials; it is injected directly into the eye. Oral ganciclovir therapy, used for mild retinitis cases, requires 12 pills a day, at a cost of $1,200 per month, and is generally less effective than other treatments. Concerns about developing drug resistance are expressed.
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PMID:Saving sight. 1136 57