Retinal Oxygen Reactivity in Patients Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
1969-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Ocular lesions, including cotton wool spots and retinal hemorrhage, are a common feature of
HIV infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The aetiology of these
apparently vasoocclusive phenomena in HIV related retinopathy is not well understood. Several
hypotheses including infectious damage of the retinal vasculature and altered retinal
hemodynamics have been postulated. The latter would be compatible with the theory that the
retina of HIV patients is hypoxic. However, direct measurement of oxygen tension in the
retina is not possible and indirect methods have to be employed. The study objective was to
investigate the reactivity in retinal blood flow to 100% oxygen breathing in patients with
HIV.