CMV retinitis is a common opportunistic infection in patients with AIDS. Ganciclovir is currently the only drug approved for treatment of CMV retinitis in immunocompromised patients. Ganciclovir suppresses CMV infections, and relapse occurs in virtually all AIDS patients when ganciclovir is discontinued. Because of their similar hematologic (blood) toxicities, the simultaneous use of ganciclovir and zidovudine (AZT) is not recommended. More recently the drug foscarnet has become available for investigational use. Studies so far indicate that remission of CMV retinitis occurs in 36 to 77 percent of patients, and that relapse occurs in virtually all patients when the drug is discontinued. The relative effectiveness of foscarnet compared with ganciclovir for the immediate control of CMV infections is unknown. Further, the long-term effects of foscarnet or ganciclovir on CMV retinitis, survival, and morbidity are unknown. There is also no definitive information on the relative effectiveness and safety of deferred versus immediate treatment for CMV retinitis confined to zones 2 and 3.~Patients are assigned to one of two groups: (1) Patients with any retinitis in zone 1 or patients with retinitis involving 25 percent or more of zones 2 and 3; and (2) Patients in whom retinitis is confined to less than 25 percent of zones 2 and 3 of the retina. Half the patients in group 1 get immediate treatment with ganciclovir; the other half receive immediate treatment with foscarnet. Patients in group 2 are treated with foscarnet or ganciclovir either immediately or treatment is deferred. If patients in group 2 have strong preferences regarding when therapy is instituted, they may elect immediate treatment or deferral of treatment.
To evaluate the relative effectiveness and safety of foscarnet versus ganciclovir for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in people with AIDS; to evaluate the relative effect on survival of the use of these two anti-CMV agents in the treatment of CMV retinitis; to compare the relative benefits of immediate treatment with foscarnet or ganciclovir versus deferral of treatment for CMV retinitis limited to less than 25 percent of zones 2 and 3.~CMV retinitis is a common opportunistic infection in patients with AIDS. Ganciclovir is currently the only drug approved for treatment of CMV retinitis in immunocompromised patients. Ganciclovir suppresses CMV infections, and relapse occurs in virtually all AIDS patients when ganciclovir is discontinued. Because of their similar hematologic (blood) toxicities, the simultaneous use of ganciclovir and zidovudine (AZT) is not recommended. More recently the drug foscarnet has become available for investigational use. Studies so far indicate that remission of CMV retinitis occurs in 36 to 77 percent of patients, and that relapse occurs in virtually all patients when the drug is discontinued. The relative effectiveness of foscarnet compared with ganciclovir for the immediate control of CMV infections is unknown. Further, the long-term effects of foscarnet or ganciclovir on CMV retinitis, survival, and morbidity are unknown. There is also no definitive information on the relative effectiveness and safety of deferred versus immediate treatment for CMV retinitis confined to zones 2 and 3.