title: Successful treatment of varicella zoster virus retinitis with aggressive intravitreal and systemic antiviral therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the successful treatment of varicella zoster virus retinitis (VZVR) using intravenous cidofovir as part of an aggressive management strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients with bilateral VZVR were treated with a combination of intravenous cidofovir and ganciclovir with adjuvant intravitreal foscarnet or ganciclovir. Both patients maintained good vision in the less severely affected eye. Retinal detachment did not occur in either patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VZVR should be treated aggressively with a combination of intravenous and intravitreal therapy to improve visual prognosis. Intravenous cidofovir, in the absence of contra-indications, should be considered as part of this aggressive therapeutic approach, especially in patients with AIDS in whom the prognosis is particularly poor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zambarakji
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Obi
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077404:Cidofovir; D003596:Cytosine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D017245:Foscarnet / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006563:Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D063065:Organophosphonates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012173:Retinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D063065:Organophosphonates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D017245:Foscarnet; D003596:Cytosine; D000077404:Cidofovir; D015774:Ganciclovir