title: Acute Retinal Necrosis: Diagnostic and Treatment Strategies in Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the preferred practice respective diagnosis, treatment, and complications in patients with acute retinal necrosis in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  The uveitis-section of the German Ophthalmologic Society developed a questionnaire with 12 questions concerning patients with acute retinal necrosis seen in the 5 years up to August 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 35 eye hospitals answered the questionnaire and reported 213 patients with acute retinal necrosis. Diagnosis was made clinically in 86%. Anterior chamber tap, vitreous biopsy, diagnostic vitrectomy, and serology were performed for confirmation. Therapy was started with acyclovir in all institutions, and continued with ganciclovir, foscarnet and brivudine in some cases. Intravitreal injections were performed in 46%. Additional oral steroids were given in 80%. A following oral antiviral treatment was performed in 94%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relevant variations were seen in diagnosis and treatment practices. The survey outlines the need for a unique diagnostic and therapeutic guideline.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité University Medicine Berlin , Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Winterhalter
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité University Medicine Berlin , Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stuebiger
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité University Medicine Berlin , Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Anna-Karina
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité University Medicine Berlin , Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pleyer
authors.affiliation: b Department of Ophthalmology , St Franziskus Hospital of Muenster, University of Duisburg Essen , Essen , Germany .
authors.forename: Arnd
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heiligenhaus
authors.affiliation: c Department of Ophthalmology , University Hospital of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany .
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mackensen
authors.affiliation: d Department of Ophthalmology , University Hospital of Tuebingen , Tuebingen , Germany , and.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zierhut
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité University Medicine Berlin , Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Antonia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Joussen
authors.affiliation: e University Eye Center, University Hospital of Freiburg , Freiburg , Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ness
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D015882:Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014821:Vitrectomy
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015774:Ganciclovir; D000212:Acyclovir
keywords: Acute retinal necrosis; anterior chamber tap; diagnostic vitrectomy; intravitreal injection; uveitis