Alleles and Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in Brazilian Patients with AIDS.

Purpose: Since cytomegalovirus retinitis (CR) is an important cause of visual impairment among AIDS patients and alleles have been associated with AIDS disease outcome, we typed locus in patients with AIDS exhibiting or not CR.

Methods: Three groups of individuals were studied: (i) 49 patients with AIDS and CR (Group I), (ii) 161 patients with AIDS without CR (Group II), and (iii) 202 healthy HIV-negative individuals (Group III). typing was performed using commercial kits.

Results: The 07 allele group was underrepresented in AIDS patients with CR (=0.005) when compared to controls or when compared to AIDS patients without CR (=0.006). The 05 allele group was overrepresented in Group II in comparison to Group III (=0.017). The frequency of the 16 allele group was increased in Group III in comparison to Group II (=0.004).

Conclusion: The 07 allele group conferred protection against the development of CR in Brazilian AIDS patients, whereas the 05 and 16 allele groups were associated with AIDS susceptibility or protection, respectively.