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. 2024 Apr 14;8(4):415-420.
doi: 10.1177/24741264241247610. eCollection 2024 Jul-Aug.

Long-Term Follow-up of Patients With Cytomegalovirus Retinitis Treated With a Ganciclovir Implant

Jonathan T Caranfa  1 , Jay S Duker  1
Affiliations

Long-Term Follow-up of Patients With Cytomegalovirus Retinitis Treated With a Ganciclovir Implant

Jonathan T Caranfa et al. J Vitreoretin Dis. .

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the long-term safety and clinical outcomes of a ganciclovir intravitreal implant in patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. Methods: A retrospective study was performed of patients with CMV retinitis treated with a ganciclovir intravitreal implant. Results: The study included 13 patients (16 eyes) previously treated with a ganciclovir intravitreal implant. The mean time since the last implant placement was 21.3 years and the mean total duration of follow-up, 22.7 years. Visual acuity (VA) ranged from 20/25 to light perception, with 56% of eyes maintaining a VA of 20/60 or better at the most recent follow-up examination. Common ocular complications included epiretinal membrane (38%), macular fibrosis/scarring (25%), retinal detachment (RD) (25%), implant dislocation (25%), and immune reactivation uveitis (19%). Intraocular surgery was required in 10 eyes (63%), with the most frequent being cataract extraction (31%), pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for implant removal (19%), and PPV for RD (13%). Conclusions: Results show the long-term safety of the ganciclovir intravitreal implant despite its residual inactive inert shell. Complication rates are consistent with those expected from infectious sequelae.

Keywords: Cytomegalovirus; HIV; Vitrasert; cytomegalovirus retinitis; ganciclovir; sustained-release ganciclovir implant.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Dr. Duker is an employee of EyePoint Pharmaceuticals.

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