With ganciclovir and foscarnet, intravenous treatment requires having a permanent catheter placed in the chest for daily infusions. The Network has information on the different types of catheters used for these CMV treatments. Cidofovir does not require a catheter, because it only requires infusions every other week. Ganciclovir is now available in two other formulations. A pill form can sometimes be used after receiving two weeks of intravenous therapy, called induction therapy.
Induction therapy is used to bring the CMV retinitis under control.
The pill form of ganciclovir can then be taken daily for maintenance therapy. A device that releases ganciclovir directly into the eye is approved for the treatment of CMV retinitis. This device is called Vitrasert . Treatment with Vitrasert is localized, meaning it only treats the eye and can't be used for treating CMV in other parts of the body. Other anti-CMV treatments are in clinical trials .