Treatment of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis with a Sustained-Release Ganciclovir Implant

Abstract

For the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis, the sustained-release ganciclovir implant is more effective than intravenous ganciclovir, but patients treated with a ganciclovir implant alone remain at greater risk for the development of cytomegalovirus disease outside of the treated eye.

Cytomegalovirus and the eye

“…4 The limitation of the intra-ocular Ganciclovir implant was its failure to prevent CMV disease in the contralateral eye. In a subsequent randomized controlled trial of HIV-associated CMV retinitis, treatment with oral Valgaciclovir (38% of patients progressed after 100 days of treatment) was similarly effective to initial intravenous Ganciclovir for 4 weeks followed by oral Valganciclovir (45% of patients progressed).…”

Periocular injection of an adenoviral vector encoding pigment epithelium-derived factor inhibits choroidal neovascularization

“…Proof of principle has been provided for implantation of sustained release devices in the vitreous cavity. 35 Our data suggest that implantation of sustained release devices in the periocular space could be considered as an alternative, and would have the advantages of a lower risk of endophthalmitis and Periocular injection of AdPEDF vectors P Gehlbach et al retinal detachment, and easier retrieval and/or replacement.…”

Farmacologia ocular aplicada no tratamento de doenças do vítreo, retina e coróide

“…O principal ponto negativo desse sistema é a necessidade de uma esclerotomia ampla para inserção do dispositivo, de 3 a 5 milímetros, que pode elevar o risco de complicações, como descolamento de retina, hemorragias e infecções. Implante semelhante de dexametasona também foi desenvolvido (33) . Outros implantes intravítreos utilizam o sistema matricial para liberação controlada de medicamentos.…”