Аcute Retinal Necrosis: Etiology, Risk Factors and Approaches to Treatment

The article presents an overview of publications devoted to acute retinal necrosis (ARN) — severe herpetic necrotizing retinopathy requiring emergency diagnosis and immediate treatment. The main causative agents of the disease are representatives of herpes viruses (most often herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus). In addition, the article discusses the main risk factors for the development of ARN and its complications: old age, initially low visual acuity, extensive retinal damage, high viral load, immunosuppression. The diagnostic criteria for the disease (defined by the community of uveitis specialists) were identified. Based on the herpetic etiology of acute retinal necrosis, the key points in the treatment of the disease, both drug and surgical, are determined. Within the framework of this literature review, a clinical case of acute retinal necrosis associated with the herpes simplex virus is considered. Risk factors that contributed to the development of the disease and its severe course are determined.

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