Inclusion Criteria

Concurrent Medication:

Allowed:

• G-CSF and GM-CSF.
• Antiretroviral therapy.

Patients must have:

• HIV infection.
• First episode of CMV retinitis.
• No prior end-organ CMV disease - PER AMENDMENT 4/25/96: No prior end organ CMV disease within the past 6 months. Subjects who have been prophylaxed with oral ganciclovir and develop an episode of CMV retinitis are eligible.
• No active AIDS-defining opportunistic infection or malignancy that requires nephrotoxic or myelosuppressive therapy.
• Life expectancy of at least 6 months.
• Consent of parent or guardian if less than 18 years of age.

NOTE:

• This protocol is approved for prisoner participation.

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded:

• PER AMENDMENT 4/25/96: Retinal detachment not scheduled for surgical repair, in all eyes meeting other eligibility criteria. (Was written as - No current retinal detachment (although old retinal detachments unrelated to HIV infection which have been repaired are permitted).
• Corneal, lens, or vitreous opacification that precludes funduscopic exam.
• Clinically significant pulmonary or neurologic impairment, such as intubation or coma. (Patients with a CNS mass or history of seizure disorder may enroll.)
• Tuberculous, diabetic, or hypertensive retinopathy, or other retinal lesions that would interfere with measurements of response or progression.
• Known hypersensitivity to the study drugs.

PER AMENDMENT 4/25/96:

• Presence of CMV retinal lesions that are only in areas of the retina which cannot be photographed.

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded:

• Immunomodulators, biologic response modifiers, interferon, or investigational agents that may influence course of CMV infection.
• Systemic acyclovir or any nephrotoxic agent, specifically aminoglycosides, amphotericin B, and parenteral pentamidines.
• Any concomitant therapy that would preclude use of cidofovir, foscarnet or ganciclovir.

Prior Medication:

Excluded: PER AMENDMENT 4/25/96:

• Use of IV ganciclovir, foscarnet or cidofovir within 6 months prior to study enrollment. (Was written - Ganciclovir or foscarnet for non-CMV herpes infections within 6 months prior to study entry.)