Intraocular pressure in patients with human immunodeficiency virus, correlation with TCD4, viral load and demographic characteristics: a case–control study

Abstract

Purpose

To compare if patients with HIV have lower intraocular pressure than patients without HIV.

Methods

The association of intraocular pressure corrected by pachymetry and the relationship with viral load (VL) and TCD4 cells was studied. A total of 99 patients with HIV (91 who were on regular treatment and in control of the disease – group 1; and 8 who were without treatment – group 2) and 100 controls were studied.

Results

Only age was of statistical significance; the group with HIV without control of the disease was the youngest. There was a decrease of −1.54 mmHg in the IOP of group 1 in relation to the controls and −3.63 mmHg in the IOP of group 2 in relation to the controls.

Conclusion

HIV patients had lower IOP than the control population. However, the relationship between IOP, VL and TCD4 was not found.

Keywords:

• HIV
• acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
• intraocular pressure
• ophthalmopathy

Abbreviations

AIC, Akaike information criterion; ARVT, antiretroviral therapy; BIO: biomicroscopy; BUT, breakup time; CMV, cytomegalovirus; mmHg, millimeters of mercury; OD, right eye; OS, left eye; RNA: ribonucleic acid; TCD4, T cells with differentiation count 4; UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro Federal University; VL, viral load.

Data statement

To foster transparency, our data are available for analysis.

Acknowlegment

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.