[Acute retinal necrosis syndrome: diagnosis and treatment strategy]

The authors describe the clinical picture, diagnostic criteria, and treatment strategy in patients with the syndrome of acute retinal necrosis, based on their own findings and published data. The syndrome of acute retinal necrosis is binocular, the difference in the time of involvement of the paired eye varying from 3 weeks to 18 months; the course of the disease is extremely severe. Starting as acute iridocyclitis, the disease rapidly progresses and leads to the development of vaso-occlusive necrotic retinitis, eventuating in retinal tissue degradation at the site of involvement, formation of ruptures and detachment of the retina. Detachment of the retina developing during its acute necrosis is associated with a drastic hypotension and rapid proliferative changes in the retina and vitreous body with the formation of numerous "dense" epiretinal membranes and funnel-shaped detachment of the retina. Active treatment strategy is recommended: emergency surgical intervention aimed at blocking of necrosis sites and ruptures of the retina. Such an approach helped attain adherence of the retina and stabilize the course of the disease. Prolonged conservative therapy of this syndrome is ineffective.