NEW JERSEY MEDICAL SCHOOL

THE INSTITUTE OF OPHTHALMOLOGY AND VISUAL SCIENCE

 

CLINICAL RESEARCH

 
Basic Research
 
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  UVEITIS  
     
  Ganciclovir Cidofovir CMV Retinitis Treatment Trial  
  Ronald J. Rescigno, MD  
  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is the most common opportunistic infection and a leading cause of blindness in patients with AIDS. This multicenter clinical trial is being conducted to compare the 2 most efficacious treatments for CMV retinitis: the ganciclovir intraocular implant and intravenous cidofovir. Patients are randomly assigned to either group. Primary treatment outcome will be vision loss greater than 3 lines in best-corrected visual acuity and rate of visual field loss (degrees/month). Other outcomes, eg, mortality, development of extraocular CMV disease, as well as adverse events will also be compared to determine which treatment is not only more efficacious but also carries less morbidity. Both intravenous cidofovir and the ganciclovir implant were found to be equally efficacious in controlling CMV retinitis, the only difference being the side-effect profiles.  
     
  Longitudinal Study of Ocular Complications of AIDS (LSOCA)  
  Ronald J. Rescigno, MD  
  Because the epidemiology of AIDS is evolving rapidly, with HIV becoming more like a chronic disease, new information is needed on the incidence and course of ocular complications. LSOCA is a prospective, observational, multicenter study that will provide such information by collecting data on the incidence of, and risk factors for, ocular complications of patients with AIDS. The study will also supplement information gleaned from treatment trials by collecting data from a large, diverse patient population. These data will allow us to examine the clinical course of ocular complications and to assess the effectiveness of treatments with regard to visual function, survival, and quality of life. There are currently 90 patients enrolled at New Jersey Medical School and 1300 nationwide.  
     

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