Cytomegalovirus Encephalitis with Decreased Vision in Immunocompromised Patients Treated with Valganciclovir: Case Report

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Almost all Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected patients develop CMV rapidly with manifestation in the central nervous system. Most CMV encephalitis is preceded by the presence of CMV in other places. Therefore, immediate therapy will be more effective and the delay in therapy can be detrimental. Case: A 40-year-old man with the major complaint of vision decrease in both eyes for 3 months claimed that he felt worse after 7 days, accompanied by headache and fever. This patient was diagnosed with HIV 2 years ago. The examination obtained GCS 456, negative meningeal sign, headache with NRS 7. The visual acuity of the right eye was negative light perception and in the left eye of vision 1/300. The patient experienced clinical improvement after oral Valganciclovir therapy with a dose of 2x450 mg. Conclusion: CMV encephalitis must be considered to diagnose earlier in HIV patients with complaints of decreased vision. With valganciclovir 2x450 mg tablets improve reduction of headache scale NRS from 7 to 2, increasing left eye vision from 1/300 to 6/60. Keywords: Encephalitis CMV, HIV, Valganciclovir.

Compartmentalization of a Multidrug-Resistant Cytomegalovirus UL54 Mutant in a Stem Cell Transplant Recipient with Encephalitis

We report a case of cytomegalovirus encephalitis in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient. A previously uncharacterized V787E mutation in UL54 was identified in cerebrospinal fluid but not plasma specimens. For the V787E recombinant virus, the half maximal effective concentrations for ganciclovir, foscarnet, and cidofovir were 8.6-, 3.4- and 2.9-fold higher than for wild-type virus, and the replicative capacity was lower. The introduction of a bulkier and negatively charged glutamate residue at position 787 could destabilize the finger domain of UL54 DNA polymerase. Viral genotyping of cerebrospinal fluid is warranted in subjects with cytomegalovirus encephalitis, owing to the low penetration of antivirals in this compartment.