CYTOMEGALOVIRUS RETINITIS SCREENING USING MACHINE LEARNING TECHNOLOGY.

PROPOSE: A screening protocol for cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) by fundus photography was generated, and the diagnostic accuracy of machine learning technology for CMVR screening in HIV patients was investigated. METHODS: One hundred sixty-five eyes of 90 HIV-positive patients were enrolled and evaluated for CMVR with binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy. Then, a single central field of the fundus image was recorded from each eye. All images were then interpreted by both machine learning models, generated by using the Keras application, and by a third-year ophthalmology resident. Diagnostic performance of CMVR screening using a machine learning model and the third-year ophthalmology resident were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Machine learning model, Keras application (VGG16), provided 68.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 50%-83.9%) sensitivity and 100% (95% CI = 97.2%-100%) specificity. The program provided accuracy of 93.94%. However, the sensitivity and specificity for the third-year ophthalmology grading were 67.7% (95% CI = 48.6%-83.3%) and 98.4% (95% CI = 94.5%-99.8%). The accuracy for CMVR classification was 89.70%. When considering for sight-threatening retinitis in Zone 1 and excluded Zones 2 and 3, the machine learning model provided high sensitivity of 88.2% (95% CI = 63.6%-98.5%) and high specificity of 100% (95% CI = 97.2%-100%). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the benefit of the machine learning model VGG16, which provided high sensitivity and specificity for detecting sight-threatening CMVR in HIV-positive patients. This model is a useful tool for ophthalmologists in clinical practice for preventing blindness from CMVR, especially during the Coronavrus Disease 2019 pandemic.

[Ocular manifestations of viral diseases]. / Atteintes ophtalmologiques des infections virales.

Viral infections may involve all ocular tissues and may have short and long-term sight-threatening consequences. Among them, ocular infections caused by herpesviruses are the most frequent. HSV-1 keratitis and kerato-uveitis affect approximately are the leading cause of infectious blindness in the Western world, mainly because of corneal opacification caused by recurrences. For this reason, they may warrant long-term antiviral prophylaxis. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus, accounts for 10 to 20% of all shingles locations and can be associated with severe ocular involvement (keratitis, kerato-uveitis) of which a quarter becomes chronic/recurrent. Post herpetic neuralgias in the trigeminal territory can be particularly debilitating. Necrotizing retinitis caused by herpesviruses (HSV, VZV, CMV) are seldom, but must be considered as absolute visual emergencies, requiring urgent intravenous and intravitreal antiviral treatment. Clinical pictures depend on the immune status of the host. Adenovirus are the most frequent cause of infectious conjunctivitis. These most often benign infections are highly contagious and may be complicated by visually disabling corneal lesions that may last over months or years. Some arboviruses may be associated with inflammatory ocular manifestations. Among them, congenital Zika infections may cause macular or optic atrophy. Conjunctivitis is frequent during the acute phase of Ebola virus disease. Up to 15% of survivors present with severe chronic inflammatory ocular conditions caused by viral persistence in uveal tissues. Finally, COVID-19-associated conjunctivitis can precede systemic disease, or even be the unique manifestation of the disease. Utmost caution must be taken because of viral shedding in tears.