Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41530976›Full record

ArticleJournal of Yeungnam medical science2026

Efficacy of high-dose vs. low-dose intravitreal ganciclovir for cytomegalovirus retinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Seongyong Jeong, Areum Jeong, Jae Rock Do, Yong Koo Kang, Min Sagong

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of Yeungnam medical science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Seongyong JeongDepartment of Ophthalmology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Areum JeongDepartment of Ophthalmology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Jae Rock DoDepartment of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
Yong Koo KangDepartment of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
Min SagongDepartment of Ophthalmology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIntravitreal ganciclovir is widely used to achieve effective local antiviral concentrations for cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis; however, to our knowledge, standardized dosing strategies have not been established, and the reported regimens vary considerably across studies. In this study, we evaluated dose-dependent treatment outcomes of intravitreal ganciclovir for CMV retinitis.

methodsThe PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were searched through November 2025. Eligible studies included intravitreal ganciclovir monotherapy, with or without systemic antiviral therapy. Cumulative first-week intravitreal dose was calculated and classified as low dose (<4,000 µg) or high dose (≥4,000 µg). The pooled proportions for resolution, visual outcomes, recurrence, and retinal detachment were estimated using a random-effects model.

resultsEighteen studies comprising 1132 eyes were included across all outcomes. The pooled proportion of anatomical resolution was 89% (95% confidence interval, 0.77-0.95), and 74% of eyes maintained stable or improved vision. Recurrence and retinal detachment occurred in 12% and 9% of the eyes, respectively. High-dose regimens achieved a significantly higher resolution than low-dose regimens (94% vs. 73%, p=0.019). Visual outcomes did not differ according to dose (77% vs. 73%, p=0.646). Recurrence also showed no dose-dependent difference (14% vs. 8%, p=0.654) and was observed predominantly in patients before the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy. The retinal detachment rates were similar (9% vs. 10%, p=0.780).

conclusionInitial intravitreal dosing at ≥4,000 µg within the first week achieved better retinitis resolution, supporting the benefit of a higher local ganciclovir concentration in the treatment of CMV retinitis.

Indexed as

Cytomegalovirus retinitisDose-response relationshipIntravitreal ganciclovirReviewTreatment outcome

Identifiers

PMID41530976
PMCPMC12887127

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.