The Safety and Effectiveness of Ganciclovir Plus Interferon Beta in Preventing the Return of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) of the Eyes in Patients With AIDS

The use of ganciclovir (DHPG) in combination with interferon beta to prevent relapse of cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with AIDS. While early clinical trials have shown that 30 mg/kg/week of DHPG is usually sufficient to delay or prevent relapse, neutropenia is a common dose-limiting problem in about 50 percent of patients. Since in vitro data have suggested that there is synergism between DHPG and interferon beta against cytomegalovirus, a reduced dose of DHPG in combination with a low dose of interferon beta may prevent relapse without causing neutropenia. If remission can be maintained with low-dose DHPG and interferon beta, maintenance therapy with a moderate dose of interferon beta alone will be evaluated in a subsequent protocol.