INTRAVITREAL GANCICLOVIR TREATMENT IN PROGRESSIVE OUTER RETINAS NECROSIS

PURPOSE: To report two patients with progressive outer retinal necrosi s, which is presumed to be caused by the varicella-zoster virus ire pa tients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). METHOD: Case re port. RESULTS: The patients were treated with intravenous foscarnet, 6 0 mg per kg of body weight three times per week, without response. Rem ission of retinal necrosis occurred with the commencement of intravitr eal ganciclovir treatment, 400 mg two times per week. Laser photocoagu lation was performed in both cases. Neither patient developed retinal detachment. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal ganciclovir treatment combined w ith systemic antiviral agent therapy in patients with progressive oute r retinal necrosis may delay progress of the disease, Early photocoagu lation may prevent the development of retinal detachment if retinal ne crosis is controlled.