A Multicenter Study of Oral Versus Intravenous Hydration in AIDS Patients With CMV Retinitis Treated With Foscavir (Foscarnet Sodium)

Inclusion Criteria Patients must have: * Documented HIV infection. * Recent diagnosis of CMV retinitis, by ophthalmoscopic appearance, that requires induction therapy. * No corneal, lens, or vitreous opacification that precludes examination of the fundi. * No evidence of other end organ CMV infection. * No evidence of tuberculous, diabetic, or hypertensive retinopathy. Exclusion Criteria Co-existing Condition: Patients with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded: * Clinically significant cardiac, pulmonary, neurologic, gastrointestinal or renal impairment that would prevent adequate voluntary oral hydration (e.g., intubation, coma, status post-gastrectomy, colon resection, gastrointestinal tumors, malabsorption, chronic diarrhea) OR with which hydration would be hazardous (e.g., congestive heart failure). * Known allergy to foscarnet or related compounds. * Considered noncompliant or unreliable for study participation. Concurrent Medication: Excluded: * Any investigational drug. * Potentially nephrotoxic drugs (e.g., amphotericin B, aminoglycosides, cisplatin). Prior Medication: Excluded: * Any investigational drug within 28 days prior to study entry. * Potentially nephrotoxic drugs (e.g., amphotericin B, aminoglycosides, cisplatin) within 7 days prior to study entry.