Journal of Clinical Research and Ophthalmology eertechz Citation: Empeslidis T, Konidaris V, Kumar P, Banerjee S, Deane J, et al. (2014) Valacyclovir as a Therapeutic Agent in Acute Retinal Necrosis: Two Case Reports. J Clin Res Ophthalmol 1(1): 016-018. 016 Abstract Introduction: Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a rare, rapidly progressive viral retinitis. The current standard of care for ARN consists of intravenous acyclovir for 5-10 days, followed by oral acyclovir for an additional 6-12 weeks. Valacyclovir has superior plasma bioavailability to acyclovir as an oral preparation. The aim of this study is to add to the evidence of treating ARN with valacyclovir with 2 additional cases. Methods: 2 patients diagnosed with ARN received treatment with valacyclovir either as a monotherapy, or in combination with intravenous acyclovir. Results: All patients had signiicant improvement in visual acuity within 4 weeks of the initiation of treatment. In the sixth month follow-up none of them developed retinal detachment, which is one of the commonest sight-threatening complications of ARN. Conclusions: Valacyclovir proved effective at treating retinitis in both patients. The 2 g t.i.d. dose was well tolerated and neither patient developed systemic adverse effects associated with the treatment. treatment of varicella zoster acute retinal necrosis syndrome, with good anatomic and functional results [10]. Valacyclovir and famciclovir have superior plasma bioavailability to acyclovir as oral preparations [11]. he aim of the present study is to add to this evidence with 2 additional cases of ARN treated with valacyclovir . Written informed consent was obtained from the patients for publication of these case reports and any accompanying images. Case Presentation Case report 1 A 22-year-old white male was referred to our Department with a 1 day history of loaters and blurred vision in his right eye. His medical history was remarkable following a diagnosis of glandular fever 4 weeks previously. Additionally, 10 days prior to presentation the patient had presented to the Neurology Department with widespread macular pruritic rash, sore throat, nausea, fever, headache, unsteadiness, weakness on the let leg, and binocular diplopia. At that time serology had conirmed an acute EBV infection with increased titres for EBV- IgM antibodies. Serological testing for Human Immunodeiciency Virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C, syphilis, HSV, VZV, and CMV was negative. A computerized tomography (CT scan) of the brain was unremarkable. However, analysis of cerebrospinal luid (CSF) had revealed 97% lymphocytic cells, a protein level of 1.44 g/L and PCR had showed positive for HHV6 viral DNA (365 DNA copies/ mL). CSF testing for HSV, VZV, EBV, CMV, and enterovirus was negative. In this setting, the patient had been diagnosed with HHV6 encephalitis and let fourth 4th nerve palsy. He had been admitted under neurological care and treated with intravenous acyclovir (1 g 3 times daily for 10 days) and pulsed intravenous methylprednisolone (1g daily for 3 days). Introduction Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) is a rare, but potentially blinding disease, characterized by the clinical trial of vitreous inlammation, occlusive vasculopathy, and progressive peripheral retinal necrosis [1]. It took more than a decade ater its irst description for its herpetic aetiology to be discovered and antiviral therapy to become the main stay of treatment [2,3]. ARN usually presents unilaterally, however, bilateral disease has been reported in up to 35% of patients [1]. he incidence in the UK is approximately 1 case per 1.6 to 2.0 million of population per year [4]. It usually afects immune-competent hosts, although it may occur in immuno-compromised individuals. As the outcome is oten poor, prompt diagnosis and treatment prevents visual loss and involvement of the fellow eye. he clinical diagnosis is based on the standard diagnostic criteria proposed by the American Uveitis Society [5]. More recently, testing of aqueous or vitreous samples for viral DNA has identiied varicella zoster virus (VZV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and occasionally cytomegalovirus (CMV) as the common causative agents of ARN [6,7]. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodologies, human herpes virus 6 (HHV6) has been recently implicated in ocular inlammation [8]. he state-of-the-art pattern of treatment for ARN involves intravenous acyclovir 10 mg/kg every 8 h for 5–10 days, subsequently oral acyclovir 400-800 mg 5 times daily for another 6-12 weeks, to decrease the possibility of second eye involvement [9]. Recent studies have reported that treatment with oral valacyclovir as the sole antiviral therapy resulted in favorable outcomes, with complete resolution of retinitis, a restoration of visual acuity, and a retinal detachment rate comparable with previously reported outcomes for intravenous acyclovir [9]. Moreover, high dosage of oral valaciclovir (2g 3 times/day) was suggested as an alternative Case Report Valacyclovir as a herapeutic Agent in Acute Retinal Necrosis: Two Case Reports heodoros Empeslidis, Vasileios Konidaris, Periyasami Kumar, Somnath Banerjee, James Deane and Konstantinos T Tsaousis* Ophthalmology Department, Leicester Royal Inirmary, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK Dates: Received: June 25, 2014; Accepted: July 14, 2014; Published: July 16, 2014 *Corresponding author: Konstantinos T Tsaousis, Ophthalmology Department, Medical Retina, Leicester Royal Inirmary, Inirmary Square, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE1 5WW, UK, Tel: +44116 258 5928; Fax: +44 258 6763; E-mail: www.peertechz.com Keywords: Valacyclovir; Acute retinal necrosis; Chorioretinitis; Herpetic infection