Studies of the Ocular Complications of AIDS (SOCA)--HPMPC Peripheral CMV Retinitis Trial (HPCRT)

Inclusion criteria: * diagnosis of AIDS according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) * 13 years or older * Diagnosis of CMV (cytomegalovirus) retinitis as determined by a SOCA-certified Ophthalmologist. * At least one lesion whose size is one-quarter disc area or more that can be photographed. * Visual acuity in an affected eye of 3 or more lines on the (ETDRS) Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart at 1 meter distance (Snellen equivalent 8/200). * score of 60 or more on the Karnofsky scale. * Serum creatinine of 1.5mg/dL or less * less than 1+ proteinuria on urinalysis * Total bilirubin of 3.0 mg/dL or less * Hepatic transaminase levels that do not exceed 5 times the normal levels * Absolute neutrophil count of 750 cells/µL or greater * Platelet count of 50,000 cells/µL or greater * Hemoglobin of 7.5 g/dL or greater * Negative pregnancy test (females of childbearing potential) * All men/women of childbearing potential should practice birth control to prevent pregnancy while on study and for 3 months afterwards * Willingness/ability, with the assistance of a caregiver if necessary to comply with treatment and follow-up procedures * Signed consent statement Exclusion criteria: * Evidence of a CMV (cytomegalovirus) retinitis lesion within zone 1. A lesion less than 1,500 µ from the margin of the optic disc or less than 3,000 µ from the center of the fovea in either eye excludes a patient. * Evidence of a CMV retinitis lesions that involves 25% …