Long-term Efficacy of Oral Valganciclovir in Presumed Cytomegalovirus Unilateral Hypertensive Anterior Uveitis

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To describe long-term efficacy and safety of oral valganciclovir in the treatment of presumed cytomegalovirus (CMV) unilateral hypertensive anterior uveitis.

Methods

Retrospective review of 40 patients (40 eyes).

Results

All patients presented with high intraocular pressure (mean 39.35 ± 7.58 mmHg), associated with signs of mild anterior uveitis. Oral valganciclovir resulted in control of the intraocular pressures and inflammation in 35 eyes. At the dose of ≥450 mg twice daily, no relapses were documented. The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 108 months (24.45 ± 14.56). At the final follow-up, the intraocular pressure was reduced to 14.92 ± 2.43 mmHg (<0.001). Drug-related complications in the form of leukopenia and azoospermia were reported in one patient.

Conclusions

Oral valganciclovir effectively and safely controls intraocular pressure and inflammation in presumed CMV anterior uveitis. A long-term treatment course seems necessary.

KEYWORDS:

• Anterior uveitis
• cytomegalovirus
• glaucoma
• intraocular pressure
• valganciclovir

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Ms. Crisalis Longanilla-Bautista for secretarial assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data are available from the authors upon reasonable request.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by King Saud University through the Vice Deanship of Research Chair, Dr. Nasser Al Rashid Research Chair in Ophthalmology (Abu El-Asrar AM).