Current and emerging antivirals for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis: an update on recent patents.

ABSTRACT: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is the most common ocular opportunistic complication and a serious cause of vision loss in immunocompromised patients. Even though, a rise in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals seems to be a major factor responsible for the prevalence of CMV retinitis, the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) significantly reduced the incidence and severity of CMV retinitis. Thorough evaluation of the patient's immune status and an exact classification of the retinal lesions may provide better understanding of the disease etiology, which would be necessary for optimizing the treatment conditions. Current drugs such as ganciclovir, valganciclovir, cidofovir and foscarnet have been highly active against CMV, but prolonged therapy wi

SUBMITTER: Vadlapudi AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4516169 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature