To evaluate the efficacy of oral ganciclovir in preventing progression to cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease (e.g., CMV retinitis, gastrointestinal CMV disease) in CMV-infected people with HIV infection and CD4 lymphocyte counts <= 100 cells/mm3. To evaluate the efficacy of this drug in reducing morbidity associated with coinfection by both CMV and HIV.

Inclusion Criteria

Concurrent Medication:

Allowed:

• Topical or ophthalmic nucleoside analogs.

Patients must have:

• Confirmation of HIV infection.
• Documented CMV infection.
• No past or present CMV disease (e.g., retinitis, colitis, esophagitis).
• Adequate visualization of the retina of both eyes by ophthalmologist.
• CD4 count <= 50 cells/mm3 (in patients WITHOUT a history of an AIDS-defining opportunistic infection or chronic gynecologic infection) OR CD4 count <= 100 cells/mm3 (in patients WITH a history of an AIDS-defining opportunistic infection or chronic gynecologic infection).

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded:

• Presence of gastrointestinal disease or symptoms not controlled with medications (e.g., persistent nausea, abdominal pain or persistent diarrhea within the past 4 weeks that is not controllable with medication).
• Inability to comply with protocol.

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded:

• The following nucleoside analogs:
• IV ganciclovir, IV acyclovir for more than 2 weeks total duration, oral acyclovir at doses > 1000 mg/day, vidarabine, amantadine hydrochloride, cytarabine, idoxuridine.
• FIAU, FIAC, foscarnet, CMV hyperimmune globulin, IV immune globulin, CMV monoclonal antibody, HPMPC.
• Imipenem-cilastatin (Primaxin).

Patients with the following prior condition are excluded:

History of hypersensitivity to acyclovir.

Prior Medication:

Excluded within the past 60 days:

Ganciclovir, foscarnet, FIAC, FIAU, CMV hyperimmune globulin, CMV monoclonal antibody, or HPMPC.