Cytomegalovirus Thrombophlebitis After Successful DHPG Therapy

Excerpt

To the editor: Cytomegalovirus is a frequent cause of opportunistic infections in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (1). 9-[1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine (DHPG) is a new, potent, and broadly active antiherpetic agent structurally similar to acyclovir. It was administered intravenously for 2 weeks to a male homosexual patient with persistent cytomegalovirus viremia. He was free of cytomegalovirus infection for 1 year and then developed a unique, previously unreported complication, cytomegalovirus thrombophlebitis.

A 34-year-old white homosexual man was diagnosed with AIDS in November 1983, when Kaposi sarcoma was histologically confirmed. He remained well until November 1984, when he developed low-grade fevers, diffuse