TY - JOUR A1 - Rao, Vinita A1 - Biswas, Jyotirmay A1 - Lingam, Gopal T1 - Real-time polymerase chain reaction in acute retinal necrosis following encephalitis Y1 - 2018/2/1 JF - Indian Journal of Ophthalmology JO - Indian J Ophthalmol SP - 322 EP - 324 VL - 66 IS - 2 UR - https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2018;volume=66;issue=2;spage=322;epage=324;aulast=Rao DO - 10.4103/ijo.IJO_748_17 N2 - Acute retinal necrosis (ARN) following herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) in an immunocompetent patient is a rare condition. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has made it possible to identify and quantify viral genome. We report a case of ARN following HSE managed with the help of qPCR. A 45-year-old man developed ARN following HSE and was treated with intravenous acyclovir and intravitreal foscarnet. The retinitis did not respond initially and the qPCR demonstrated a rise in the number of copies of the HSV-1 viral genome. With continued treatment with intravenous acyclovir and intravitreal ganciclovir, the retinitis healed and the qPCR confirmed a reduction in the viral load. qPCR has a high sensitivity and specificity for HSV and is a useful tool for diagnosis and treatment of viral retinitis. ER -