High ocular CMV copies and mismatched receipts may predict poor visual prognosis in CMV retinitis patients following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND: To summarize the clinical characteristics and potential factors affecting the visual outcomes in patients with cytomegalovirus retinitis following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 12 patients (19 eyes) with cytomegalovirus retinitis after HSCT at Guangzhou First People’s Hospital in China between January 2013 and December 2014. Demographic and clinical characteristics, ocular manifestations and visual outcomes were evaluated by reviewing medical records at the Departments of Hematology and Ophthalmology. All patients were followed up at least 6 months after stopping antiviral therapy. The visual outcome was defined as improvement, stabilization and deterioration. RESULTS: The subjects were composed of 7 human leucocyte antigen-matched and 5 mismatched receipts. All patients received combined systemic and intravitreous antiviral therapy. Eleven eyes gained improved or stabilized visual acuity, while 8 eyes suffered deterioration. Eyes with cytomegalovirus load less than 1 × 10(4) copies/ml in vitreous accounted for higher rate in eyes with good visual prognosis than those with cytomegalovirus copies above 1 × 10(4) copies/ml (52.63% vs 5.26%, P < 0.001). Human leucocyte antigen-matched receipts gained better visual prognosis than those mismatched ones (47.37% vs10.53%, P < 0.05). The virus types, cytomegalovirus peak in the blood, involved retinal zone and size had no influence on the visual outcomes (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High ocular cytomegalovirus copies and mismatched receipts may be potential adverse factors affecting visual outcomes in cytomegalovirus retinitis patients following allogeneic HSCT.