Between 1984 and 1987 (over two-and-a-half years) 30 hospitalized patients with HIV infections of different degrees of severity were ophthalmologically examined. Ocular involvement was found in 17 patients (approx. 57%). In 16 of these 17 patients with pathologic ophthalmologic findings (approx. 94%), AIDS was already fully developed. Ocular involvement is therefore a sign of poor prognosis. Fourteen patients had a microvascular retinal syndrome and four patients had infectious (chorio-)retinitis (causative organisms: cytomegalovirus in three cases, Cryptococcus neoformans in one). Further findings included sicca syndrome with superficial punctate keratitis in two cases, keratitis in one patient with generalized mucocutaneous candidiasis, Kaposi's sarcoma of the eyelids in two cases, Kaposi's sarcoma of the conjunctiva in one case, papilledema with cryptococcal meningitis in one case, and atypical hordeolum in one case. Morphologic and pathogenetic aspects of the ophthalmologic findings, their importance and course in AIDS patients, and therapeutic problems are discussed.

Occlusion of a femoro-popliteal Gore-Tex-bypass in two patients could be reopened using local low-dose thrombolytic therapy. Apart from the peripheral outflow effective anticoagulation treatment appears to have a deciding influence on long-term results. Application of the thrombolytic selectively to single vessels of the lower leg as well as a post-lysis effect offer the chance for an improvement in outflow. Combination of local lysis with vessel surgery may be an additional alternative for conservation of the extremities.