[Prognostic factors for acute retinal necrosis: Retrospective analysis of a series of 37 immunocompetent patients].

INTRODUCTION

We study data and prognostic factors in a population of 37 patients with acute retinal necrosis.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

37 immunocompetent patients aged 16 to 88 years with unilateral or bilateral acute retinal necrosis, diagnosed clinically and virologically at Lille University Hospital and Dunkirk Hospital were included.

RESULTS

The initial visual acuity was significantly associated with the location of the area of retinal necrosis. Conversely, we found no statistically significant relationship between diagnostic delay and initial visual acuity. Moreover, 70% of patients had a retinal detachment during follow-up, and 50% of retinal detachments occurred within 90 days of diagnosis.

DISCUSSION: We found no statistically significant relationship between diagnostic delay and initial visual acuity, whereas the latter is dependent upon the location of the area of necrosis, although we would intuitively expect the centripetal progression of the necrosis to associate a delay in diagnosis with greater damage. Initial visual acuity appears to be a major prognostic factor.

CONCLUSION

Acute retinal necrosis is a rare and serious pathology, the visual prognosis of which appears to be primarily related to the area of initial necrosis and initial visual acuity.