Treatment of Refractory Acute Retinal Necrosis with Intravenous Foscarnet or Cidofovir

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To report use of intravenous foscarnet or cidofovir for the treatment of refractory acute retinal necrosis (ARN).

Methods: Retrospective chart review.

Results: Four immunocompetent men aged 45–90 years presented with ARN from 2008–2014. One patient with two prior episodes of herpes simplex virus (HSV) ARN developed ARN after 6 years of antiviral prophylaxis. His condition worsened on acyclovir followed by intravenous foscarnet but responded to intravenous cidofovir (final VA in involved eye 20/20). Another patient with HSV ARN had received prolonged acyclovir prophylaxis for HSV keratitis; ARN improved after switching from acyclovir to intravenous foscarnet (final VA 20/125). Two patients with varicella zoster virus (VZV) ARN initially responded to acyclovir but developed fellow eye involvement 2–8 weeks later that worsened on acyclovir but responded to intravenous foscarnet (fellow eye final VA 20/20, 20/40).

Conclusions: Cases of HSV or VZV ARN that worsen despite intravenous acyclovir treatment may respond to intravenous foscarnet or cidofovir.

Keywords:

• Acute retinal necrosis
• cidofovir
• foscarnet
• herpes simplex virus
• herpes zoster virus

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.