Role of famciclovir in the management of acute retinal necrosis in developing countries

To evaluate clinical presentations, management strategies, and results in patients with acute retinal necrosis (ARN) who received famciclovir.

In a retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series, we reviewed case records of patients with ARN from the computerized database between January 2007 and December 2009. Data collected included demographic details of the patient, relevant history, examination findings, drugs administered, clinical response, and final visual acuity. The main outcome measures were visual acuity and clinical response.

Famciclovir was administered in three cases of ARN. In these three immunocompetent patients, there was complete resolution of ARN with improvement in visual acuity and absence of other eye involvement or recurrence in the primary eye.

One may consider treating ARN with oral famciclovir in immunocompetent patients in developing countries when intravenous acyclovir treatment is not affordable to the patient or when there is clinical resistance to acyclovir.