Table 3.

Classification Criteria for Cytomegalovirus Retinitis

Criteria (requires #1 and #2 and either #3 or #4)
1. Necrotizing retinitis with indistinct borders due to numerous small (<50 μm) satellites
AND
2. Immune compromise, either
a. Systemic (e.g. AIDS, organ transplant, chemotherapy) OR
b. Ocular (e.g. intraocular corticosteroids or chemotherapy)
AND (#3 or #4)
3. Characteristic clinical picture ([a. or b. or c.] AND d.)
a. Wedge-shaped area of retinitis OR
b. Hemorrhagic appearance of the retinitis OR
c. Granular appearance of the retinitis AND
d. Absent to mild vitritis
OR
4. Evidence of intraocular infection with cytomegalovirus
a. Positive PCR* for cytomegalovirus from either the aqueous or vitreous specimen
Exclusions
1. Positive serology for syphilis using a treponemal test
2. Intraocular specimen PCR-positive for herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus or Toxoplasma gondii (unless there is immune compromise, morphologic evidence for >1 infection, the characteristic picture of cytomegalovirus retinitis, and the intraocular fluid specimen also has a positive PCR for cytomegalovirus)

^*PCR = polymerase chain reaction.