[Use of intravitreal ganciclovir for cytomegalovirus retinitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus].

A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) developed bilateral cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis and was treated with a total of 9 intravitreal ganciclovir injections at a dose of 400 micrograms/50 microliters in each eye under topical anesthesia. She was unable to receive systemic antiviral therapy because of bone marrow suppression and renal failure. The condition of both eyes improved after the intravitreal injections. Recurrence of CMV retinitis was not seen until death. Intravitreal injections of ganciclovir are useful even for the non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) immunocompromised patients with CMV retinitis when the patients can not receive intravenous medications because of systemic complications.