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Study of ocular manifestations in HIV positive patients at a tertiary care center in Kumaon region, Uttarakhand, India

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Original Article

Author Details : Kalpana Kumari, G. S. Titiyal

Volume : 3, Issue : 2, Year : 2017

Article Page : 166-172

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Abstract

Aims & Objectives: To study the ocular manifestations in HIV/AIDS patients in terms of percentage of ocular involvement, pattern, relationship of ocular conditions with CD4 counts and visual deterioration by the same presenting to a tertiary care center of Kumaon region, Uttarakhand, India.
Materials & Methods: Hospital based observational prospective, clinical study in which 400 HIV positive patients were examined at a Tertiary care centre, Uttarakhand (Sushila Tiwari Memorial Hospital) in terms of clinical examinations, relevant investigations, treatment and were documented.
Results: 400 HIV positive cases were examined. The commonest systemic disease was pulmonary Tuberculosis (18%). In the study group, 28.5% of the cases had ocular involvement and, HIV retinopathy (9.2%) being the commonest HIV-associated ophthalmic lesion followed by Dry eye disorder (6.8%) & HIV microangiopathy (6.3%). Heterosexual route (89.7%) was the most common mode of transmission of disease in the patients examined. The correlation between CD4 level and ocular involvement was insignificant except in cases of HIV retinopathy (p value=0.001), HIV microangiopathy (p value=0.020) and CMV retinitis (p value=0.01).
Conclusion: HIV retinopathy was the most common ocular manifestation encountered in our study with mild visual deterioration and good immune status of the patient (i.e., high CD4 count). Dry eye disorder and HIV microangiopathy are the next common lesions with varied degrees of visual affection and CD4 count range. There needs to be awareness of ocular involvement among HIV infected individuals and an increased emphasis on regular ophthalmic examination in all HIV patients for timely diagnosis of the vision threatening conditions.

Keywords: Ocular manifestations, HIV retinopathy, CD4 count, Vision deterioration, Dry eye

How to cite : Kumari K, Titiyal G S, Study of ocular manifestations in HIV positive patients at a tertiary care center in Kumaon region, Uttarakhand, India. Indian J Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2017;3(2):166-172

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