Immunomodulatory Therapy for Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Patients as First-Line Therapy

Outcomes in Patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease from the First-line Antimetabolites for Steroid-sparing Treatment Uveitis Trial

PURPOSE

To compare the effectiveness of methotrexate (MTX) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in achieving corticosteroid-sparing control of uveitis in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.

METHODS

A subanalysis of patients with VKH from the First-line Antimetabolites as Steroid-sparing Treatment (FAST) Uveitis Trial, a randomized, observer-masked, comparative effectiveness trial, with comparisons by treatment (MTX versus MMF) and disease stage (acute versus chronic). Individuals with noninfectious uveitis were placed on a standardized corticosteroid taper and block randomized 1:1 to either 25mg weekly oral MTX or 1.5g twice daily oral MMF. The primary outcome was treatment success defined by corticosteroid-sparing control of uveitis at 6 months. Additional outcomes included change in best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), retinal central subfield thickness (CST), and resolution of serous retinal detachment (SRD).

RESULTS

Ninety-three out of 216 enrolled patients had VKH; 49 patients were randomized to MTX and 44 to MMF, of which 85 patients (46 on MTX, 39 on MMF) contributed to the primary outcome. There was no significant difference in treatment success by antimetabolite (80.4% for MTX compared to 64.1% for MMF; P=.12) or in BSCVA improvement (P=.78). Methotrexate was superior to MMF in reducing CST (P=.003) and resolving SRD (P=.02). There was no significant difference in treatment success by disease stage (P=.25), but patients with acute VKH had greater improvement in BSCVA (P<.001) and reduction of CST (P=.02) than chronic VKH patients.

CONCLUSIONS

MTX and MMF have comparable outcomes as corticosteroid-sparing immunosuppressive therapies for VKH. Visual acuity improvement was greater in acute vs chronic VKH.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00182929.

A Novel Risk Stratification-Based Immunomodulatory Treatment Strategy for Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease

PURPOSE

To develop a more tailored immunomodulatory treatment (IMT) strategy based on a novel 2-arm risk stratification system in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) patients.

DESIGN

A retrospective clinical cohort study.

METHODS

Seventy-nine VKH patients in the acute stage were stratified into low- (n = 58) and high-risk (n = 21) groups based on their exposure to risk factors. They were treated with oral glucocorticoids (GCs) plus as-needed (PRN) or first-line IMT. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), sunset glow fundus (SGF) occurrence, relapse rate, and systemic adverse events were evaluated during follow-up.

RESULTS

Compared with the low-risk group, the high-risk group showed poorer BCVA at baseline (estimated difference 0.51, 95% CI 0.30-0.78; P < .001) and 6-month follow-up (estimated difference 0.08, 95% CI 0.00-0.08; P = .006), higher incidence of SGF at 12 months (52% vs 28%; RR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.4; P = .040), and higher relapse rate at 6 months (24% vs 5%; RR 4.6, 95% CI 1.2-17.5; P = .028) and 12 months (52% vs 12%; RR 4.4, 95% CI 1.9-9.7; P < .001). In the low-risk cohort, no significant difference between the 2 IMT strategies was observed in primary outcomes. In the high-risk cohort, patients with the immediate IMT showed better BCVA (estimated difference -0.20, 95% CI -0.3 to -0.08; P = .007), lower incidence of SGF (27% vs 80%; RR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.9; P = .030), and lower relapse rate (27% vs 80%; RR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.9; P = .030) compared with the PRN regimen. Moreover, the immediate IMT regimen had a higher frequency of systemic adverse events than the PRN regimen (47% vs 7%; RR 7.1, 95% CI 2.5-20.4; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

High-risk stratification at baseline was associated with poor prognosis. The immediate IMT regimen was only beneficial for high-risk VKH patients regarding visual outcome, SGF, and relapse rate. This study suggests a potential need for a customized IMT strategy for VKH patients.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease: The Clinical Spectrum and Management of Case Series in a Tertiary Eye Centre in Northern Part Of Malaysia

AIMS

We present the clinical spectrum, the initial clinical presentation with management trends in treating 14 Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease cases in a tertiary center in the Northern part of Malaysia.

CASE SERIES

There were 14 cases of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease retrospectively reviewed over five years (from 2015 to 2020). The mean age at presentation was 37.7 years (range 21-64 years), with female predominance (85.7%). All cases presented with acute uveitic stage and bilateral eye involvement. Of them, 11 (78.6%) were probable VKH, and three (21.4%) were incomplete VKH. All patients attended with acute panuveitis at first presentation. The main posterior segment involvement was disc edema in 57.1% (16 out of 28 eyes) and exudative retinal detachment (ERD) in 35.7% (10 out of 28 eyes). Most of them presented with blindness (3/60 and worse) and moderate visual impair- ment (6/18-6/60); 35.71% each, followed by mild visual impairment (6/12-6/18), and severe visual impairment (6/60-3/60); 7.1% each. Ten patients (71.4%) required combination second-line immunomodulatory treatment during subsequent visits, and only four patients (28.6%) responded well to corticosteroid therapy. Most of the cases achieved no visual impairment (64.3%), followed by mild visual impairment (21.4%) and moderate visual impairment (14.3%), and none were severe or blind at the end of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

VKH is a potentially blinding illness if there is inadequate control of the disease in the acute stage. Most of our patients achieved good visual outcomes with early immunomodulatory treatment and systemic corticosteroids.

Bibliometric analysis of the Vogt‒Koyanagi‒Harada disease literature

PURPOSE

As an autoimmune disease, Vogt‒Koyanagi‒Harada disease (VKHD) is a main type of uveitis in many countries and regions, significantly impacting patient vision. At present, information regarding VKHD is still limited, and further research is needed. We conducted a bibliometric analysis to characterize the overall status, current trends, and current focus of VKHD research.

METHOD

Literature published from 1975 to 2022 was obtained from the Web of Science core collection and analysed with the R-language packages Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace software.

RESULTS

A total of 1050 papers on VKHD were retrieved from 261 journals, and 16,084 references were obtained from the papers in the original search. The average annual number of published articles was approximately 21.9, and the number of publications rapidly increased after 2004. The journal Ocular Immunology and Inflammation published the most papers on VKHD, while the American Journal of Ophthalmology has the highest citation frequency. The leading countries were Japan, China (PRC), and the United States of America (USA). Yang PZ from Chongqing Medical University was the most prolific and cited author. The most frequently cited study discussed revision of VKHD diagnostic criteria. An analysis of the highest frequency keywords showed that most research focused on the treatment, diagnosis, and pathogenesis of VKHD and its relationship with other related diseases. At present, the most urgent research direction is in the relationship between COVID-19 or COVID-19 vaccines and VKHD and the corresponding mechanisms underlying it.

CONCLUSION

Utilizing dynamic and visualization tools, bibliometrics provides a clear depiction of the research history, development trends, and research hotspots in VKHD It serves as a valuable tool for identifying research gaps and areas that necessitate further exploration. Our study revealed potential directions for future VKHD research, including investigating specific molecular mechanisms underlying the disease, exploring the clinical utility of optical coherence tomography angiography and other diagnostic techniques, and conducting clinical research on novel therapeutic drugs.

CLINICAL FEATURES AND PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF BACILLARY LAYER DETACHMENT IN ACUTE VOGT-KOYANAGI-HARADA DISEASE

PURPOSE

To evaluate the characteristics of bacillary layer detachment (BALAD) in acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease and determine its prognostic value.

METHODS

Seventy patients with acute VKH disease with a minimum follow-up of 6 months were studied. The primary outcomes were clinical characteristics associated with BALAD, including features on multimodal imaging at baseline and follow-up. The secondary outcomes included best-corrected visual acuity and VKH with recurrence features.

RESULTS

Of 70 eyes (36 patients), 41 (58.6%) showed BALAD. The mean baseline best-corrected visual acuity and mean best-corrected visual acuity after resolution of serous retinal detachment were significantly lower in the BALAD group than in the no-BALAD group (0.90 ± 0.49 vs. 0.35 ± 0.35 log minimum angle of resolution, P < 0.001 and 0.39 ± 0.27 vs. 0.20 ± 0.20 log minimum angle of resolution, P = 0.020). The loss of ellipsoid zone integrity at baseline, proportion of serous retinal detachment, duration of serous retinal detachment, loss of ellipsoid zone integrity at 1 month, and subfoveal choroidal thickness at baseline were significantly higher in the BALAD group ( P = 0.017, P = 0.006, P = 0.023, P = 0.002, and P = 0.046, respectively). The mean best-corrected visual acuity and subfoveal choroidal thickness did not differ between the two groups at 6 months ( P = 0.380 and P = 0.180, respectively). Bacillary layer detachment at baseline was found to be a significant prognostic factor for VKH with recurrence features ( P = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada with BALAD featured more severe clinical characteristics than VKH without BALAD during the acute phase. Patients with baseline BALAD require more vigilant monitoring as they are more likely to show recurrence features within the first 6 months.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease and COVID

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) is a rare multisystem inflammatory disease affecting the eyes, ears, brain, skin, and hair. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new contagious infection that might trigger the onset of VKH disease, as previously proposed for other viruses. Moreover, after the mass vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, cases of VKH disease associated with COVID-19 vaccination have been reported. We present an overview of VKH and a comprehensive literature revision of all the VKH cases described after COVID-19 infection and vaccination, adding our experience. No differences have been found considering epidemiology and clinical findings of the disease compared to those reported in the no-COVID era. All of the patients promptly responded to systemic and local corticosteroid therapy with a good final visual prognosis. Different possible pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the onset of VKH after COVID-19 vaccination are discussed, while the presence of the HLA DR4 antigen as a genetic predisposition for the onset of the disease after COVID-19 infection and vaccination is proposed. VKH disease is one of the most frequently reported uveitic entities after COVID-19 vaccination, but a good response to therapy should not discourage vaccination. Nevertheless, ophthalmologists should be alerted to the possibility of VKH occurrence or relapse after COVID-19 vaccination, especially in genetically predisposed subjects.

A randomized non-inferiority trial of therapeutic strategy with immunosuppressants versus biologics for Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Biologics are increasingly used to treat Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, but head-to-head comparisons with conventional immunosuppressants are lacking. Here in this randomized trial (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100043061), we assigned 110 patients (27 early-phase and 83 late-phase) to cyclosporine-based immunosuppressant strategy (N = 56) or adalimumab-based biologic strategy (N = 54), each combined with a modified corticosteroid regimen. The primary outcome is change from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity at week 26. The margin of non-inferiority for cyclosporine is -7 letters. The primary outcome is 11.2 letters (95% CI, 7.5 to 14.9) in the cyclosporine group and 6.3 letters (95% CI, 3.1 to 9.6) in the adalimumab group (difference, 4.9; 95% CI, 0.2 to 9.5; P < 0.001 for non-inferiority). The between-group difference is -0.8 letters (95% CI, -6.1 to 4.5) in early-phase disease and 5.7 letters (95% CI, 0.2 to 11.2) in late-phase. Serious adverse events are reported less frequently in the cyclosporine group than in the adalimumab group (0.70 vs. 1.21 events per patient-year). Here, we report that combined with a non-standard corticosteroid regimen, cyclosporine-based immunosuppressant strategy is non-inferior to adalimumab-based biologic strategy by 26 weeks for visual improvement in a cohort of patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, 75% of whom have a late-phase disease.

COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease Complicated by Central Serous Chorioretinopathy during Treatment Course: Case Report and Literature Review

With the promotion of mass COVID-19 vaccination in the elimination of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, new side effects, including ocular complications, are emerging. In this study, we report on a 62-year-old Chinese man who developed Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease six days after his third dose of an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, with a preceding severe headache and tinnitus. His medical history included tuberculosis 20 years prior and hypertension. Systemic prednisone was administered, resulting in completely relieved inflammation and improved visual acuity. Another three and a half months later, the visual acuity of his right eye slightly decreased due to complicated central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) disease. By gradually replacing prednisone with cyclosporine within 2 months, the subretinal fluid was completely absorbed at the last visit. Steroid-related CSC during the treatment course of VKH disease after COVID-19 vaccination has never been reported before. By reviewing relative literature, we discuss the mechanism of CSC onset in our case and the potential therapeutic strategies. Complicated CSC may develop in the eyes with vaccine-related VKH after steroid treatment. Ophthalmologists should be aware of this condition, carefully distinguish complicated CSC with inflammation relapse, and adjust the medication in a timely manner.

Efficacy of Rituximab Treatment in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease Poorly Controlled by Traditional Immunosuppressive Treatment

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of Rituximab (RTX) therapy in patients affected by Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease poorly controlled by traditional immunosuppressive treatment.

METHODS

Retrospective case series of recurrent VKH uveitis treated with intravenous RTX between January 2019 and November 2020. All patients were treated with intravenous RTX and underwent complete ophthalmic examination, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus photography, subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) measurement on enhanced depth imaging optical-coherence tomography (EDI-OCT), fluorescein, and indocyanine green angiography.

RESULTS

Five patients were included. All patients received at least 3 RTX infusions. Mean BCVA improved from 20/32 Snellen equivalent at baseline before RTX treatment to 20/28 Snellen equivalent (p = .008). Mean SFCT on EDI-OCT showed a reduction from 564.4 µm(SD = 176.2) to 280.0 µm(SD = 140.4) (p = .015). Follow-up ranged from 12 to 21 months, with a mean of 18.2 ± 3.7 months.

CONCLUSIONS

In these case series, RTX was effective in VHK disease poorly controlled by traditional immunosuppressive treatment.

Treatment and Prognosis of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease: Real-Life Experience in Long-Term Follow-Up

Background: Vogt−Koyanagi−Harada (VKH) disease is a form of uveitis that is rare in Western countries. The aim of this study was to report on the long-term real-life treatment and prognosis of VKH in Italy. Methods: The clinical features, complications, and final visual acuity were retrospectively evaluated in 38 patients with VKH (mean follow-up: 120 months) globally, according to oral or intravenous corticosteroid treatment at onset and subsequent immunosuppressive therapy. Results: The mean final visual acuity was 0.13 ± 0.4 logMAR, which was a significant increase from the baseline (p < 0.0001). The patients who received intravenous rather than oral corticosteroids relapsed less (p = 0.026), with fewer relapses/patient/month of follow-up (p < 0.0001), and showed less frequent sunset glow fundus (33.3% versus 55%) and more relapse-free cases after induction therapy (p = 0.007). Delayed immunosuppressive therapy (median: 180 days from the onset of symptoms) reduced the rate of sunset glow fundus. The onset of sunset glow fundus was associated with a worse final visual acuity (p = 0.006). Conclusion: The long-term prognosis of VKH is quite good. Intravenous corticosteroids given at the onset of VKH are more effective than oral corticosteroids. Even if it is not given immediately after symptoms onset, immunosuppressive therapy is able to reduce the incidence of sunset glow fundus and to improve the final visual prognosis.

Chromatin accessibility analysis reveals regulatory dynamics and therapeutic relevance of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

The barrier to curing Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) is thought to reside in a lack of understanding in the roles and regulations of peripheral inflammatory immune cells. Here we perform a single-cell multi-omic study of 166,149 cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with VKH, profile the chromatin accessibility and gene expression in the same blood samples, and uncover prominent cellular heterogeneity. Immune cells in VKH blood are highly activated and pro-inflammatory. Notably, we describe an enrichment of transcription targets for nuclear factor kappa B in conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) that governed inflammation. Integrative analysis of transcriptomic and chromatin maps shows that the RELA in cDCs is related to disease complications and poor prognosis. Ligand-receptor interaction pairs also identify cDC as an important predictor that regulated multiple immune subsets. Our results reveal epigenetic and transcriptional dynamics in auto-inflammation, especially the cDC subtype that might lead to therapeutic strategies in VKH.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: the step-by-step approach to a better understanding of clinicopathology, immunopathology, diagnosis, and management: a brief review

BACKGROUND

Appraisals of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) have become progressively more complete, since its first description in 1906. The availability of new investigational methods has improved our knowledge of the immunopathology, clinicopathology, diagnosis, and management of VKH disease. This review aimed to describe some of the steps that led to better characterization of VKH as a clinical entity.

METHODS

We searched on PubMed for articles that described the history of VKH disease and analyzed the progress in disease appraisal with new investigational and imaging methods. In particular, we searched for articles that investigated the clinicopathology, diagnosis, and management of VKH.

FINDINGS

The following developments were considered essential for improving the appraisal and understanding of VKH: (1) the history of the disease, (2) immunopathological mechanisms, (3) clinicopathology, (4) the importance of distinguishing initial-onset from chronic disease, (5) relevant imaging modalities, among which indocyanine green angiography is crucial, (6) diagnostic criteria that facilitate early diagnosis, and (7) the need for early, prolonged, aggressive treatment that combines steroidal and non-steroidal immunosuppression.

CONCLUSION

Based on these findings, the definition of VKH has improved. VKH disease starts in the choroidal stroma and later involves other structures when it is not diagnosed and treated early. Indocyanine green angiography and enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography facilitate early diagnosis and precise monitoring of choroidal inflammation. ICGA is clearly the gold standard for appraisals and follow-ups in VKH disease, however EDI-OCT should be especially considered in those areas where ICGA is not fully available. These modalities have contributed substantially to a "cure" for VKH, when treatment is introduced within the therapeutic window of opportunity.

Mechanisms, Pathophysiology and Current Immunomodulatory/Immunosuppressive Therapy of Non-Infectious and/or Immune-Mediated Choroiditis

Non-infectious choroiditis comprises immune-mediated diseases resulting from diverse pathophysiological mechanisms. These conditions are sub-divided into two main groups, (1) diseases of the choriocapillaris and (2) diseases of the choroidal stroma. The purpose of this study is to expose the pathophysiology of the most common diseases of both these groups and recommend the optimal immunomodulatory/immunosuppressive therapy of each analyzed condition based on literature data and data from our own centers. Material and Methods: Narrative review. In the group of choriocapillaritis entities or primary inflammatory choriocapillaropathies (PICCPs) including multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS), acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE), idiopathic multifocal choroiditis (MFC) and serpiginous choroiditis (SC), as well as secondary choriocapillaritides including acute syphilitic posterior multifocal placoid chorioretinitis (ASPMPC) and tuberculosis-related SC (TB-SC), were analyzed. In the group of stromal choroidites, HLA-A29 birdshot retinochoroiditis (BRC) and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease were included. For each entity a literature search, in the PubMed database, on treatment was performed and analyzed and the therapeutic attitudes of our own centers were presented. Management of immune-mediated choroiditis implies vigorous immunosuppressive therapy given in a prompt and prolonged fashion in most of these entities.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Relapse after COVID-19 Vaccination

PURPOSE

To report a relapse of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease in a patient after COVID-19 vaccination.

CASE REPORT

A VKH disease patient, well controlled on azathioprine therapy, presented a uveitis relapse eleven days after the first vaccination for COVID-19. She received an induction high-dose intravenous corticosteroid therapy, followed by oral therapy, which led to a complete recovery from the uveitis in two weeks. No relapses occurred in the following five months of follow-up. Despite high-dose corticosteroid therapy and azathioprine, and one dose only of vaccination, the patient resulted positive for anti-RBD spike COV19 antibody.

CONCLUSION

Relapse of VKH disease can occur after COVID-19 vaccination, despite an appropriate immunosuppressive therapy is ongoing. It responds to the classic therapy for VKH, and a serological response to an incomplete COVID-19 vaccination can also be found.

New Perspectives on the Immunopathogenesis and Treatment of Uveitis Associated With Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease

Uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is a bilateral, chronic, granulomatous autoimmune disease associated with vitiligo, poliosis, alopecia, and meningeal and auditory manifestations. The disease affects pigmented races with a predisposing genetic background. Evidence has been provided that the clinical manifestations are caused by a T-lymphocyte-mediated autoimmune response directed against antigens associated with melanocytes in the target organs. Alongside of T lymphocytes, autoreactive B cells play a central role in the development and propagation of several autoimmune diseases. The potential role of B lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of granulomatous uveitis associated with VKH disease is exemplified within several studies. The early initial-onset acute uveitic phase typically exhibits granulomatous choroiditis with secondary exudative retinal detachment and optic disc hyperemia and swelling, subsequently involving the anterior segment if not adequately treated. The disease eventually progresses to chronic recurrent granulomatous anterior uveitis with progressive posterior segment depigmentation resulting in "sunset glow fundus" appearance and chorioretinal atrophy if not properly controlled. Chronically evolving disease is more refractory to treatment and, consequently, vision-threatening complications have been recognized to occur in the chronic recurrent phase of the disease. Conventional treatment with early high-dose systemic corticosteroids is not sufficient to prevent chronic evolution. Addition of immunomodulatory therapy with mycophenolate mofetil as first-line therapy combined with systemic corticosteroids in patients with acute initial-onset disease prevents progression to chronic evolution, late complications, vitiligo, and poliosis. Furthermore, patients under such combined therapy were able to discontinue treatment without relapse of inflammation. These findings suggest that there is a therapeutic window of opportunity for highly successful treatment during the early initial-onset acute uveitic phases, likely because the underlying disease process is not fully matured. It is hypothesized that early and aggressive immunosuppressive therapy will prevent remnant epitope generation in the initiation of the autoimmune process, the so-called primary response. B cell depleting therapy with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab is effective in patients with refractory chronic recurrent granulomatous uveitis. The good response after rituximab therapy reinforces the idea of an important role of B cells in the pathogenesis or progression of chronic recurrent uveitis associated with VKH disease.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada: treatment of recurrence after administration of 3 intravenous bolus of 1 g of corticosteroids and mycophenolate mofetil

The case is presented on a young Honduran female with no medical history of note, who presented with multiple areas of exudative retinal detachment (RD), and a best-corrected visual acuity of 1.3 logMAR in both eyes. She was diagnosed with incomplete Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, and treated early with a combination of intravenous therapy with 1 g of prednisolone per day for 3 days, as recommended by published evidence, as well as mycophenolate mofetil (2 g per day). During the corticosteroids tapering, there was a recurrence of exudative retinal detachments, and megadoses of 1 g of intravenous corticosteroids per day were reintroduced for 6 days until the complete resolution of the fluid of the exudative RD, and cyclosporine (100 mg per day), subtenon triamcinolone (40 mg/mL), and intravitreal ranibizumab once a month in the both eyes were added to the treatment, with a great control of choroidal inflammation that resulted in the remission of symptoms and signs.

Comparison of combination therapy of prednisolone and cyclosporine with corticosteroid pulse therapy in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy of prednisolone and cyclosporine and corticosteroid pulse therapy in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective, multicenter, randomized, non-inferiority trial.

METHODS

Patients of new-onset acute VKH disease at 11 centers in Japan between 2014 and 2018 were randomized to a combination (oral prednisolone 60 mg daily with gradual taper-off to 35 mg/day and cyclosporine 3 mg/kg/day) and corticosteroid (methylprednisolone 1000 mg for 3 days followed by oral prednisolone) groups, and were followed for 1 year.

RESULTS

Thirty-four were assigned to the combination and thirty-six patients to the corticosteroid group. Recurrence/worsening risk was 0.15 (95% confidence-interval [CI] 0.03-0.27) in the combination group and 0.25 (95% CI 0.11-0.39) in the corticosteroid group, with a risk difference of - 0.10 (90% CI - 0.27 to 0.06), demonstrating non-inferiority of the combination group with a non-inferiority margin of 0.20 (P = 0.0013). Serious adverse events occurred in three patients (two with hyponatremia and one with severe headaches) in the combination group and none in the corticosteroid group. Sunset glow fundus grades and cataract rates at 1 year were 0.57 (95% CI 0.42-71) and 4.3% in the combination group and 0.91 (95% CI 0.78-1.04) and 34.0% in the corticosteroid group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination therapy was noninferior to corticosteroid therapy with respect to recurrence/worsening risk. Notably, the recurrence/worsening risk, sunset glow fundus grade, and cataract rate were lower in the combination group than in the corticosteroid group.

Classification Criteria for Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease

PURPOSE

To determine classification criteria for Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.

DESIGN

Machine learning of cases with VKH disease and 5 other panuveitides.

METHODS

Cases of panuveitides were collected in an informatics-designed preliminary database, and a final database was constructed of cases achieving supermajority agreement on the diagnosis, using formal consensus techniques. Cases were split into a training set and a validation set. Machine learning using multinomial logistic regression was used on the training set to determine a parsimonious set of criteria that minimized the misclassification rate among the panuveitides. The resulting criteria were evaluated on the validation set.

RESULTS

One thousand twelve cases of panuveitides, including 156 cases of early-stage VKH and 103 cases of late-stage VKH, were evaluated. Overall accuracy for panuveitides was 96.3% in the training set and 94.0% in the validation set (95% confidence interval 89.0, 96.8). Key criteria for early-stage VKH included the following: (1) exudative retinal detachment with characteristic appearance on fluorescein angiogram or optical coherence tomography or (2) panuveitis with ≥2 of 5 neurologic symptoms/signs. Key criteria for late-stage VKH included history of early-stage VKH and either (1) sunset glow fundus or (2) uveitis and ≥1 of 3 cutaneous signs. The misclassification rates in the learning and validation sets for early-stage VKH were 8.0% and 7.7%, respectively, and for late-stage VKH 1.0% and 12%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The criteria for VKH had a reasonably low misclassification rate and seemed to perform sufficiently well for use in clinical and translational research.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease in Spain

PURPOSE

To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease in Spain.

METHODS

This was a retrospective multicenter analysis of data from VKH patients followed for at least 6 months. The data collected were related to demographics, clinical manifestations, treatments, and complications.

RESULTS

Participants were 112 patients (224 eyes), from 13 tertiary referral centers, of mean age 37.5 ± 14.7 years; 83.9% were women. Ethnicities were 61.6% Caucasian and 30.4% Hispanic. The disease was classified as complete in 16.1%, incomplete in 55.4%, and probable in 28.6%. When seen for the first time, the clinical course was acute in 69.6%, recurrent chronic in 15.2%, and chronic in 14.3%. The most frequent treatment was corticosteroids (acute stage 42.2%, maintenance stage 55.6%). The most common complications were cataract (41.1%) and ocular hypertension (16.1%). In most eyes, visual acuity was improved (96.7%) or remained stable at the end of follow up.

CONCLUSION

VKH in Spain mostly affects women and presents as incomplete acute stage disease. Visual prognosis is good. Cataract and glaucoma are the two most frequent complications.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome in a Canadian First Nations Population

Purpose: To characterize presentations, characteristics and outcomes of uveitis in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome in a North American First Nations (FN) population.Methods: Charts of 27 Canadian FN patients with VKH uveitis were retrospectively reviewed to characterize demographics, disease characteristics, management, complications and visual outcomes.Results: Average age at uveitis onset was 30.9 ± 13.8 years. Twenty-six patients 10 (96.3%) were female. Nine patients (33.3%) demonstrated complete VKH, 8 (29.6%) incomplete, and 10 (37%) probable VKH. Systemic associations included integumentary (19 patients, 70%), neurologic (17 patients, 63%), and auditory (13 patients, 48%) findings. Initial rates of mild, moderate and severe vision loss were 19 eyes (35.2%), 12 eyes (22.2%), and 23 eyes (42.6%), respectively, compared with final rates of 19 eyes (35.2%), 14 eyes (25.6%) and 21 eyes (38.9%), respectively. Average change in visual acuity was 15 0.1 ± 6.3 Snellen lines. Rates of immunomodulatory therapy (IMT) use (10 patients, 37%) fell short of targets.Conclusions: VKH may cause potentially severe uveitis in this population. Comorbidities including tuberculosis and diabetes, in addition to unique cultural, linguistic and geographic factors, may necessitate complex, individualized management strategies.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease: A Case Series in a Tertiary Eye Center

PURPOSE

To study the clinical spectrum of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease in a tertiary eye center in Nepal.

METHODS

Baseline demographic details and clinical features of six patients diagnosed as VKH in a tertiary eye center were retrospectively reviewed. Examinations included best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and slit lamp examination of anterior and posterior segments. Baseline blood investigations, chest X-ray, fundus photography, and fundus fluorescent angiography (FFA) were performed on all the patients.

RESULTS

The mean age at presentation was 46 ± 8.43 years with female predominance (83.3%). The disease was complete in 16.7%, incomplete in 16.7%, and probable in 66.7% of the patients. Most cases presented in acute uveitis stage (66.7%). The most common finding in acute cases was serous retinal detachment (66.7%), followed by disc edema (58.3%), whereas in chronic cases, depigmented fundus was the most common. All cases had bilateral presentation.

CONCLUSION

VKH is an important cause of bilateral loss of vision and has a good visual prognosis if aggressive treatment is initiated during the early stages.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: a retrospective and multicentric study of 41 patients

Background

East and South East Asian subjects as well as Amerindians and Hispanic subjects are predominantly affected by Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

In Europe, only few studies have described the clinical features and treatment of this disease, especially in France.

Methods

This retrospective case series was based on data collected from patients with a VKH disease diagnosed from January 2000 to March 2017, provided by three French Tertiary Centers.

Results

Forty-one patients (16 men and 25 women) were diagnosed: average age at diagnosis was 38.7 years. Patients were mainly from Maghreb (58%), but ethnic origins were multiple. Pleiocytosis was observed in 19 cases (63%) and 17 out of 41 patients showed audio vestibular signs (41%), and 11 showed skin signs (27%). Thirty-four were treated with corticosteroids (83%), 11 with an immunosuppressant treatment (27%) and 5 with biological therapy drugs (13%). Relapse was observed in 41% patients, even though final average visual acuity had improved. We did not find any significant clinical difference in the population from Maghreb compared to other populations, but for age and sex trends, since there was a majority of younger women.

Conclusion

We report here the second largest French cohort reported to date to our knowledge. The multiethnicity in our study suggests that VKH disease should be evoked whatever patients’ ethnicity.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada: treatment of recurrence after administration of 3 intravenous bolus of 1g of corticosteroids and mycophenolate mofetil

The case is presented on a young Honduran female with no medical history of note, who presented with multiple areas of exudative retinal detachment (RD), and a best-corrected visual acuity of 1.3logMAR in both eyes. She was diagnosed with incomplete Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, and treated early with a combination of intravenous therapy with 1g of prednisolone per day for 3 days, as recommended by published evidence, as well as mycophenolate mofetil (2g per day). During the corticosteroids tapering, there was a recurrence of exudative retinal detachments, and megadoses of 1g of intravenous corticosteroids per day were reintroduced for 6 days until the complete resolution of the fluid of the exudative RD, and cyclosporine (100mg per day), subtenon triamcinolone (40mg/mL), and intravitreal ranibizumab once a month in the both eyes were added to the treatment, with a great control of choroidal inflammation that resulted in the remission of symptoms and signs.

Recommendations statement on the immunosuppressive treatment of non-infectious, non-neoplastic, non-anterior uveitis

OBJECTIVE

To generate recommendations on the use of immunomodulators in patients with non-infectious, non-neoplastic intermediate uveitis (IU), posterior uveitis (PU) and panuveitis (PanU) based on best evidence and experience.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary panel of 5 experts was established, who defined the scope, users, and sections of the document. A systematic literature review (SLR) was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of immunomodulatory drugs in patients with non-infectious, non-neoplastic, non-anterior uveitis. The results of the SLR were presented and discussed during an expert meeting in which 34 recommendations were generated. The level of agreement with the recommendations was also tested in 25 additional experts following a Delphi process. Recommendations were voted from 1 (total disagreement) to 10 (total agreement). We defined agreement if at least 70% of the experts voted ≥7. The level of evidence and grade or recommendation were assessed using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine Levels of Evidence.

RESULTS

The SLR included 33 articles. The 34 recommendations were accepted after 2 Delphi rounds (3 of them were modified after the first round). They include specific recommendations on patients with non-infectious, non-neoplastic, PU and PanU, as well as different treatment guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with non-infectious, non-neoplastic, non-anterior uveitis these recommendations might help treatment decision making, due to the lack of robust evidence or other globally accepted algorithms.

Bilateral acute angle closure glaucoma as an initial presentation of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome: A clinical case report

PURPOSE

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) is an autoimmune disease with bilateral granulomatous uveitis and various systemic manifestations. Bilateral acute angle closure glaucoma (AACG) can be a rare initial manifestation of VKH that may be misdiagnosed as primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG).

CASE REPORT

A 62-year-old woman with bilateral painless loss of vision referred to Qingdao Municipal Hospital. She had been diagnosed as PACG before admission and prescribed with anti-glaucoma treatment which did not improve her symptom. She had severe bilateral uveitis, optic disk swelling, and serous retinal detachment in both eyes. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was 20 mmHg in the right eye and 23 mmHg in the left eye, and her best corrected visual acuities (BCVAs) were 0.02 in both eyes. She was treated with oral corticosteroid therapy on a tapering schedule. One month after the therapy, the IOP remained well-controlled with deepened anterior chamber. Her visual acuity and symptom were improved.

CONCLUSIONS

We experienced a case of VKH disease with an unusual presentation of bilateral secondary AACG. It is important for ophthalmologists to know about this rare cause of painless loss of vision so that it could be treated properly.

Identification of Ribosomal Protein S4, Y-Linked 1 as a cyclosporin A plus corticosteroid resistance gene

Combination of corticosteroids (CS) with cyclosporin A (CsA) is widely used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, autoinflammatory diseases and transplantation rejection. However, some patients fail to respond or develop resistance to the combination regimen. In Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease model, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) based transcriptomics, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) based proteomics and assays in vitro to screen and validate potential resistant molecules. We found that a total of 1697 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 21 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in CD4⁺ T cells between CsA & CS-resistant and -sensitive VKH patients. Ribosomal Protein S4, Y-Linked 1 (RPS4Y1) was verified to regulate the resistance of CD4⁺ T cells from male VKH patients to CsA & CS. Importantly, we showed that chlorambucil (CLB) could reverse the resistance by RPS4Y1 suppression. Taken together, we identify RPS4Y1 as an important CsA & CS resistance gene in VKH disease. Researchers should consider validating the resistant effect of RPS4Y1 in other autoimmune diseases or organ transplantation.

Unique clinical spectrum with distinguishing diagnostic features in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome

A 36-year-old ulcerative colitis male patient on treatment for 7 years was referred to dermatology with resistant alopecia universalis and hypopigmented patches on limbs for 5 months. During this time he also reported to ophthalmology with acute bilateral decreased vision for 5 days. His examination revealed hyperaemic discs, multifocal retinal detachments and choroidal granulomas. Taking into account the revised diagnostic criteria, atypical course of disease in the form of early cutaneous presentation followed by ophthalmic manifestations was attributed to Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (VKHS) which was supported by relevant investigations including ophthalmic imaging, MRI and nerve conduction studies. Subclinical nerve conduction abnormalities and white matter demyelination were also seen for the first time in a patient of VKHS. Appropriate treatment was required to prevent visual complications; therefore, systemic corticosteroids with steroid sparing immunosuppressive drug therapy showed significant improvement in vision on follow-up. Cutaneous manifestations were resilient to the entire regimen.

Clinical Presentation, Management, and Long-Term Outcome of Pars Planitis, Panuveitis, and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease in Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVE

Chronic uveitis is a common manifestation of pediatric rheumatologic conditions and may result in irreversible blindness and long-term disability. While chronic anterior uveitis is the most commonly encountered ocular manifestation of rheumatic disease, little is known about the clinical presentation, management, and long-term outcome of more complex eye conditions such as pars planitis (PP), panuveitis (PU), and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH). The present study was undertaken to comprehensively assess the long-term safety and efficacy of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics for the treatment of pediatric and adolescent patients with PP, PU, and VKH.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 75 children and adolescents with idiopathic PP (n = 50), PU (n = 12), and VKH (n = 14) followed by the Pediatric Rheumatology Core at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and evaluated referral patterns, clinical presentation, treatment response, and long-term clinical outcome.

RESULTS

Patients were followed for an average of 52 months. Their mean age at disease onset was 10 years. Bilateral eye involvement was seen in 87% of the patients. At first presentation to an ophthalmologist, glaucoma was noted in 21% of patients and vision loss (<20/40) in 87% of patients, while legal blindness (≤20/200 in the better-seeing eye) was diagnosed in 18 of 75 (24%) of patients (PP 22%, PU 36%, and VKH 21%). The average referral time to a pediatric rheumatologist was 13 months (range 1-96 months). Topical steroids were used in all patients, but 98% of patients required additional DMARDs, and 73% required therapy with biologics. After a mean of 52 months, 35% of patients across all disease groups had significant vision loss or were blind, and only 28% were in clinical remission without medications. The worst outcome was observed in children with PU. Regression analysis, young age at onset, delayed referral to a pediatric rheumatologist, and chronic disease were strong predictors for the risk of long-term blindness.

CONCLUSION

PP, PU, and VKH involve a high risk of permanent vision loss and should be managed by a skilled rheumatologist as early and as aggressively as possible.

Long term treatment with infliximab in pediatric Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Purpose

To report a case of pediatric Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) successfully treated with infliximab and methotrexate for ten years.

Observations

A 9-year-old Hispanic girl with VKH disease, was successfully treated with oral methotrexate 15 mg/week and oral prednisone 40 mg/day (1mg/kg/day). But when oral prednisone was tapered to 10 mg/day over a 3-month period, inflammation recurred. Patient was considered as corticosteroid-dependent thus infliximab 7mg/kg/pulse was started on days 0, 15, 60 and every 60 days thereafter. Six months after, infliximab was increased to 10mg/kg/pulse as cells in the anterior chamber were still observed. After four months of treatment, ocular inflammation was fully controlled, oral prednisone was tapered to discontinuation over a period of 10 months and methotrexate was maintained at 15 mg/week. At 1-year follow up, infliximab was reduced to 6 mg/kg/pulse as patient remained stable on examination. After being treated for 3-years it was decided to discontinue infliximab however, 2 + anterior chamber cells recurred after a dose was skipped thus infliximab was restarted. After 10 years treatment with infliximab 6 mg/kg/pulse every 60 days and methotrexate 15 mg/week associated, no relapsing inflammatory episodes and resolution of physical features of Cushing's syndrome were observed.

Conclusion and importance

Combined therapy of infliximab and methotrexate for up to 10 years was efficacious in this girl in controlling recurrent inflammation without associated side effects. To the best of our knowledge, this is the longest reported clinical follow up of a pediatric VKH case supporting the use of infliximab and methotrexate without steroids treatment.

Catching the therapeutic window of opportunity in early initial-onset Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada uveitis can cure the disease

PURPOSE

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is a primary autoimmune granulomatous choroiditis that begins in the choroidal stroma. The aim of this review was to gather a body of evidence for the concept of a window of therapeutic opportunity, defined as a time interval following initial-onset disease during which adequate treatment will substantially modify the disease outcome and possibly even lead to cure, similar to what has been described for rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

We reviewed the literature and consulted leading experts in VKH disease to determine the consensus for the notion of a therapeutic window of opportunity in VKH disease.

RESULTS

We found a substantial body of evidence in the literature that a therapeutic window of opportunity exists for initial-onset acute uveitis associated with VKH disease. The disease outcome can be substantially improved if dual systemic steroidal and non-steroidal immunosuppressants are given within 2-3 weeks of the onset of initial VKH disease, avoiding evolution to chronic disease and development of "sunset glow fundus." Several studies additionally report series in which the disease could be cured, using such an approach.

CONCLUSIONS

There is substantial evidence for a therapeutic window of opportunity in initial-onset acute VKH disease. Timely and adequate treatment led to substantial improvement of disease outcome and prevented chronic evolution and "sunset glow fundus," and very early treatment led to the cure after discontinuation of therapy in several series, likely due to the fact that the choroid is the sole origin of inflammation in VKH disease.

Clinical features and visual outcomes of 111 patients with new-onset acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease treated with pulse intravenous corticosteroids

Purpose

To describe the clinical features, treatment and visual outcomes of Japanese patients with new-onset acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.

Methods

Clinical records of 111 patients who presented between 1999 and 2015 to the Ocular Inflammation Service of the Kyorin Eye Center, Tokyo, were reviewed.

Results

Of the 111 patients (68 women, 43 men), 16 had complete, 90 had incomplete and 5 had probable VKH disease. The median follow-up period was 36 months (4–175 months). The mean age at presentation was 41 years (19–74 years). Serous retinal detachment (202 eyes) and optic disc hyperaemia (89 eyes) were observed at presentation. Of the patients tested, 45/48 (93.8%) were human leucocyte antigen-DR4 positive and 63/77 (81.8%) had cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Initial corticosteroid treatment consisted of pulse intravenous therapy in all patients. Sunset glow fundus was observed in 49.5% of eyes, and anterior and/or posterior segment recurrence of inflammation was observed in 25 patients (22.5%). Treatment was transitioned to cyclosporine in 17 patients (15.3%) for steroid sparing (6 patients) or recurrent inflammation (11 patients), with good subsequent control. Ocular complications were observed in 47 of 222 eyes (21.2%) (mostly cataract), and systemic complications were observed in 8.1% of patients (mostly hypertension and diabetes mellitus). Ninety-three percent of eyes (167 of 178 eyes) had a visual acuity of ≥1.0 at 1 year after presentation.

Conclusions

An aggressive corticosteroid treatment strategy in a large number of patients with new-onset acute VKH disease, with transitioning to cyclosporine in selected cases, resulted in excellent visual outcomes and low rates of recurrence.

Longitudinal observation of subretinal fibrosis in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Background

Subretinal fibrosis (SRF) is a vision-threatening complication of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH). It has long been recognized as a sequela of chronic inflammation. The developmental process of SRF, however, has not been described. The purpose of this study is to provide longitudinal observations of SRF in VKH.

Methods

Retrospective chart review of 10 VKH patients referred to our group between January 2008 and September 2015 at acute uveitic stage with SRF at presentation or who developed SRF during follow up.

Results

Ten patients (6 males and 4 females) with a median age of 39.0 (range, 23 to 58) years old were included. The median disease duration at presentation and median duration of follow up were 25.5 (range 5 to 60) days and 32.5 (range 13 to 61) months respectively. At presentation, all patients except one had been inappropriately treated with glucocorticosteroid (insufficiently dosed or tapered too fast) for longer than 2 weeks. Despite large dose oral glucocorticosteroid (1 mg/kg/d prednisone or equivalent) with slow tapering in combination with at least one immunomodulatory agent (cyclosporin A, cyclophosphamide or azathioprine) after presentation, all patients developed bilateral SRF within the first 4 months of disease course and 7 patients within the first 2 months. In 8 patients, shape-change/migration and progressive proliferation/pigmentation of SRF was observed over a period of several months after its formation, and then became quiescent but may further underwent depigmentation or pigmentation. SRF involved macula in 12 eyes (7 patients) and caused treatment resistant macular detachment and severe visual impairment in 6 eyes (4 patients). At the last visit, eyes with macular involvement were more common to had worse final best corrected visual acuity (≤20/50) than those without (9/12 vs. 0/8, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

SRF usually develop early in the disease course in VKH patients who are not adequately controlled; it usually undergoes a highly dynamic process within the subretinal space and may involve the macula and resulted in poor final visual outcome.

Corticotherapy vs. Corticotherapy Plus Immunosuppressive Therapy in Acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease

INTRODUCTION

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease is a multisystem disorder characterized by a bilateral granulomatous panuveitis. Multiple therapeutic regimens have been used to control inflammation in acute uveitic stage to prevent irreversible visual loss. The purpose of this paper is to compare the effect, on functional and anatomic outcomes, of early treatment with standard corticotherapy vs. corticotherapy plus immunosuppressive (IMT) therapy in acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (Group A vs Group B).

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, with an evolution time of 2 weeks or less, who attended the Inflammatory Eye Disease Clinic, from 2001 to 2015. Data collected included demographic information, presenting features, treatment and improvement in visual acuity (VA).

RESULTS

Sixteen charts were reviewed; 15 females (93.75%). Mean age: 30.81±10.53 years, follow-up time (months): 54.94±43.43. Ten patients (66.6%) had IMT, azathioprine, methotrexate and cyclophosphamide. In group A, initial VA<20/200 in 66.7%; final VA was ≥20/40 in 9 eyes (75%). In group B, initial VA<20/200 in 65%; final VA≥20/40 in 15 eyes (75%). In group A, VA improved faster at one and 3 months (ANOVA P<.057). Clinical characteristics in convalescent stage and complications were similar. Anterior chamber recurrences occurred in both groups and posterior pole recurrences were observed in group A. Time to first recurrence was similar (P<.279). Frequency of recurrence was 2.33±1.80 vs 1.5±0.79 (P<.01). At recurrence 15 patients were still having oral steroids, nine in group A, 6 in Group B. In group A, prednisone was given during more time: mean 15.17±12.08 months, and time to reach to 10mg dose was longer: 8.60±11.7 (P<.008 and P<.046).

CONCLUSIONS

Adding IMT as first line therapy to corticosteroids, do not matter significantly in terms of final VA or development of visually significant complications. In the IMT plus corticosteroids group number of recurrences was significantly lower, and a steroid sparing effect was evident.

Clinical spectrum and management options in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Purpose

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features, treatment options, and visual outcome of Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease patients over a 9-year period.

Method

A retrospective chart analysis of 32 patients with VKH, from January 2007 to December 2015, at a tertiary care government medical college eye hospital in South India.

Results

A total of 32 patients were diagnosed with VKH. The mean age at diagnosis was 32.03±8.8 years. There were 24 patients (42 eyes) with acute VKH and eight patients (16 eyes) with recurrent/chronic VKH. The mean baseline best-corrected visual acuity on presentation in the acute VKH group was 5/60 (1.114±0.565) and at last follow-up it was 6/9 (0.225±0.157). Intravenous methyl prednisolone (IVMP) was administered for 3 days to all patients with acute and recurrent VKH, followed by posterior subtenon triamcinolone (40 mg/mL) and oral azathioprine.

Conclusion

VKH-related uveitis is more common in the female gender in this South Indian population. Posterior uveitis is the most common initial manifestation. Initial aggressive treatment with IVMP, peribulbar long-acting corticosteroids, and immunosuppressives, avoiding side effects of systemic steroids, gives a good visual outcome without recurrences. Cases of unilateral VKH, seen in six patients, are the initial manifestations in the natural course of the disease, which if managed aggressively at the acute stage prevents recurrence in the other eye.

Mycophenolate mofetil combined with systemic corticosteroids prevents progression to chronic recurrent inflammation and development of 'sunset glow fundus' in initial-onset acute uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as first-line therapy combined with systemic corticosteroids in initial-onset acute uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.

METHODS

This prospective study included 38 patients (76 eyes). The main outcome measures were final visual acuity, corticosteroid-sparing effect, progression to chronic recurrent granulomatous uveitis and development of complications, particularly 'sunset glow fundus'.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 37.0 ± 29.3 (range 9-120 months). Visual acuity of 20/20 was achieved by 93.4% of the eyes. Corticosteroid-sparing effect was achieved in all patients. The mean interval between starting treatment and tapering to 10 mg or less daily was 3.8 ± 1.3 months (range 3-7 months). Twenty-two patients (57.9%) discontinued treatment without relapse of inflammation. The mean time observed off of treatment was 28.1 ± 19.6 months (range 1-60 months). None of the eyes progressed to chronic recurrent granulomatous uveitis. The ocular complications encountered were glaucoma in two eyes (2.6%) and cataract in five eyes (6.6%). None of the eyes developed 'sunset glow fundus', and none of the patients developed any systemic adverse events associated with the treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of MMF as first-line therapy combined with systemic corticosteroids in patients with initial-onset acute VKH disease prevents progression to chronic recurrent granulomatous inflammation and development of 'sunset glow fundus'.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome - current perspectives

Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada syndrome is a cause of noninfectious panuveitis, leading to significant vision loss in many patients. It is an autoimmune disease occurring in genetically susceptible individuals and clinically presents as bilateral panuveitis with serous retinal detachments and hyperemic, swollen optic discs, which are associated with neurological and auditory manifestations. Early diagnosis and prompt and adequate treatment with immunosuppressive agents (corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive drugs) may halt disease progression and prevent recurrences and vision loss. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the variable clinical aspects of this disease, highlighting diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Reappraisal of the management of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: sunset glow fundus is no more a fatality

Purpose

Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease is a primary autoimmune stromal choroiditis. Aim of the study was to gather a body of evidence from the literature and from experts that systemic corticosteroid combined with non-steroidal immunosuppressive therapy should become the standard of care in initial-onset VKH disease.

Methods

Literature was reviewed and leading experts in VKH were consulted in different parts of the world in order to put forward a consensus attitude in the management of initial-onset VKH disease.

Results

There was a substantial body of evidence in the literature that early aggressive and sustained corticosteroid and non-steroidal immunosuppressive therapy in initial-onset VKH disease allows to achieve full control of choroidal inflammation, eliminating any subclinical choroidal inflammation, and substantially reduces recurrences with improvement of anatomical and functional outcomes. This was in agreement with experts’ opinion and practice. ICGA was the method of choice to monitor disease evolution.

Conclusion

Since the choroidal space is easily accessible to systemic therapy and because inflammation in VKH disease is exclusively originating from the choroidal stroma, early and sustained treatment right at the onset of the disease process with dual corticosteroid and non-steroidal immunosuppressive therapy can result in full “healing” in many cases preventing sunset glow fundus which results from depigmentation from chronic uncontrolled inflammation.

Outcomes of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease: A Subanalysis From a Randomized Clinical Trial of Antimetabolite Therapies

PURPOSE

To report outcomes of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease from a clinical trial of antimetabolite therapies.

DESIGN

Subanalysis from an observer-masked randomized clinical trial for noninfectious intermediate, posterior, and panuveitis.

METHODS

setting: Clinical practice at Aravind Eye Hospitals, India.

PATIENT POPULATION

Forty-three of 80 patients enrolled (54%) diagnosed with VKH.

INTERVENTION

Patients were randomized to either 25 mg oral methotrexate weekly or 1 g mycophenolate mofetil twice daily, with a corticosteroid taper.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcome was corticosteroid-sparing control of inflammation at 5 and 6 months. Secondary outcomes included visual acuity, central subfield thickness, and adverse events. Patients were categorized as acute (diagnosis ≤3 months prior to enrollment) or chronic (diagnosis >3 months prior to enrollment).

RESULTS

Twenty-seven patients were randomized to methotrexate and 16 to mycophenolate mofetil; 30 had acute VKH. The odds of achieving corticosteroid-sparing control of inflammation with methotrexate were 2.5 times (95% CI: 0.6, 9.8; P = .20) the odds with mycophenolate mofetil, a difference that was not statistically significant. The average improvement in visual acuity was 12.5 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters. On average, visual acuity for patients with acute VKH improved by 14 more ETDRS letters than those with chronic VKH (P < .001), but there was no difference in corticosteroid-sparing control of inflammation (P = .99). All 26 eyes with a serous retinal detachment at baseline resolved, and 88% achieved corticosteroid-sparing control of inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients treated with antimetabolites and corticosteroids were able to achieve corticosteroid-sparing control of inflammation by 6 months. Although patients with acute VKH gained more visual improvement than those with chronic VKH, this did not correspond with a higher rate of controlled inflammation.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: review of a rare autoimmune disease targeting antigens of melanocytes

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKHD) is a rare granulomatous inflammatory disease that affects pigmented structures, such as eye, inner ear, meninges, skin and hair. This disease is mainly a Th1 lymphocyte mediated aggression to melanocytes after a viral trigger in the presence of HLA-DRB1*0405 allele. The absence of ocular trauma or previous intraocular surgery sets VKHD appart from sympathetic ophthalmia, its main differential diagnosis. The disease has an acute onset of bilateral blurred vision with hyperemia preceded by flu-like symptoms. The acute uveitic stage is characterized by a diffuse choroiditis with serous retinal detachment and optic disc hyperemia and edema. Fluorescein angiography in this phase demonstrates multiple early hyperfluorescent points. After the acute uveitic stage, ocular and integumentary system pigmentary changes may appear. Ocular findings may be accompanied by lymphocytic meningitis, hearing impairment and/or tinnitus in a variable proportion of patients. Prompt diagnosis followed by early, aggressive and long-term treatment with high-dose corticosteroids is most often ensued by good visual outcomes. However, some patients may experience chronic uveal inflammation with functional eye deterioration. The current review discusses the general features of VKHD, including epidemiology, classification into categories, differential diagnosis and current therapeutic approaches.

Chronic Recurrent Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease and Development of 'Sunset Glow Fundus' Predict Worse Retinal Sensitivity

PURPOSE

To investigate prognostic factors for retinal sensitivity assessed by microperimetry in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.

METHODS

In total, 34 patients with initial-onset acute disease and 19 patients with chronic recurrent disease were retrospectively evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 40.4 ± 40.5 months. Sensitivity was significantly worse in eyes with more severe anterior segment inflammation at presentation, as indicated by the presence of mutton-fat keratic precipitates, anterior chamber reaction ≥2+, and posterior synechiae. Chronic recurrent presentation, development of complications, and 'sunset glow fundus' were significantly associated with worse sensitivity. Using logistic regression analysis, better sensitivity was significantly associated with initial-onset acute presentation (odds ratio, OR = 6.9; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.53-9.66).

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic recurrent presentation and development of complications and 'sunset glow fundus' are associated with a worse sensitivity outcome.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: Novel insights into pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is one of the major vision-threatening diseases in certain populations, such as Asians, native Americans, Hispanics and Middle Easterners. It is characterized by bilateral uveitis that is frequently associated with neurological (meningeal), auditory, and integumentary manifestations. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of VKH disease need to be further elucidated, it is widely accepted that the clinical manifestations are caused by an autoimmune response directed against melanin associated antigens in the target organs, i.e. the eye, inner ear, meninges and skin. In the past decades, accumulating evidence has shown that genetic factors, including VKH disease specific risk factors (HLA-DR4) and general risk factors for immune mediated diseases (IL-23R), dysfunction of immune responses, including the innate and adaptive immune system and environmental triggering factors are all involved in the development of VKH disease. Clinically, the criteria of diagnosis for VKH disease have been further improved by the employment of novel imaging techniques for the eye. For the treatment, early and adequate corticosteroids are still the mainstream regime for the disease. However, immunosuppressive and biological agents have shown benefit for the treatment of VKH disease, especially for those patients not responding to corticosteroids. This review is focused on our current knowledge of VKH disease, especially for the diagnosis, pathogenesis (genetic factors and immune mechanisms), ancillary tests and treatment. A better understanding of the role of microbiome composition, genetic basis and ongoing immune processes along with the development of novel biomarkers and objective quantitative assays to monitor intraocular inflammation are needed to improve current management of VKH patients.

Unilateral Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease: A Clinical Case Report

Purpose

To report a case of a 20-year-old female with decreased visual acuity (VA) in the left eye (LE).

Methods

This is a retrospective and descriptive case report based on data from clinical records, patient observation and analysis of diagnostic tests.

Results

A 20-year-old female presented with decreased VA in the LE for 3 days. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20 in the right eye (RE) and 20/40 in the LE. Pupillary function, intraocular pressure, results of external segment examinations and slit-lamp biomicroscopy were normal, bilaterally. RE fundoscopy was normal, and in the LE it revealed papillitis and posterior pole exudative retinal detachment. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) confirmed the macular serous retinal detachment and showed thickening of the posterior choroid also revealed by orbital ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Fluorescein angiography showed angiographic features typical of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease: disseminated spotted choroidal hyperfluorescence and choroidal multifocal hypofluorescence, multifocal profuse leakage in the retina with pooling, serous retinal detachment and optic disc hyperfluorescence. Serological testing for the diagnosis of infectious pathologies was negative, and the review of systems was normal. The patient received systemic steroids and cyclosporine. LE BCVA improved up to 20/20 at 18 months after the diagnosis, with complete reabsorption of subretinal fluid and normal retinal and choroidal thickness by OCT.

Conclusion

Despite the unilateral involvement, the clinical and angiographic features were typical of VKH disease, and ophthalmologists should be aware to recognize this rare clinical variant of the disease.

Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease Over 12 Years at a Tertiary Center

PURPOSE

To describe the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease over a 12-year period.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was used to identify VKH patients, from January 1999 to December 2011.

RESULTS

In total, 154 patients (308 eyes) were diagnosed with VKH. The mean age at diagnosis was 33.8 ± 13 years. Mean baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/125; (0.8 ± 0.6 logMAR). Recurrent episodes occurred in 107 (54%) patients. Oral prednisone was administered in all patients. At the last visit, the mean BCVA was 20/50 (0.4 ± 0.7 logMAR). The most common complications post-treatment were: glaucoma [104 (33.8%) eyes] and cataract [84 (27.2%) eyes].

CONCLUSIONS

In Saudi Arabia, VKH-related uveitis is predominant in young females. Bilateral panuveitis is the most common ocular manifestation and near 50% of eyes present with exudative retinal detachment. Oral prednisone was the primary treatment and the majority of eyes maintained 20/50 or better vision.