Kyrieleis plaques associated with acute retinal necrosis from herpes simplex virus type 2.

PURPOSE: To present the case of a 19-year-old woman with acute retinal necrosis syndrome due to herpes simplex virus type 2, who developed segmental periarterial (Kyrieleis) plaques six and one half weeks into her clinical course. METHODS: Retrospective case report. PATIENTS: Single patient with the diagnosis of acute retinal necrosis syndrome. RESULTS: The patient's vitreous biopsy was positive by polymerase chain reaction for herpes simplex virus type 2. DISCUSSION: Kyrieleis plaques have been found in the setting of toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, syphilis, rickettsial disease, herpes zoster virus, intraocular lymphoma, and idiopathic branch retinal artery occlusions. The differential diagnosis for these periarterial plaques should also include herpes simplex virus type 2.