FAMCICLOVIR FOR THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE RETINAL NECROSIS (ARN) SYNDROME

PURPOSE: To document a case of acute retinal necrosis syndrome in an i mmunocompetent patient who was successfully treated with famciclovir a fter unsuccessful treatment with acyclovir. METHODS: After diagnosing acute retinal necrosis syndrome in the patient's left eye, we treated him with 13 mg/kg/24 hours of intravenous acyclovir in three daily dos es for 14 days, followed by 800 mg of acyclovir five times per day ora lly, New areas of retinitis developed within the posterior pole despit e treatment with the maximum dosage of acyclovir; thus, we used a new antiviral agent, famciclovir. RESULTS: When we administered 500 mg of famciclovir orally every 8 hours for 3 months, the retinitis regressed within 1 month, leaving atrophic granular pigmented scars. CONCLUSION : Famciclovir can effectively treat acute retinal necrosis syndrome in immunocompetent patients.