Effect of the duration of immunomodulatory therapy on the clinical features of recurrent episodes in Vogt--Koyanagi--Harada disease

Ultrasonographic study of the orbit as an early diagnostic tool in Vogt Koyanagi Harada disease (VKH): A case report

In recent years, ultrasound has demonstrated its usefulness in the approach to vascular structures and other tissues such as the orbit, facilitating the early diagnosis of various diseases without having to rely on other more invasive or less available tests. In Vogt Koyanagi Harada syndrome, characterised by bilateral acute uveitis, ocular ultrasound is a clear example of the usefulness of ultrasonography in early diagnosis, facilitating the initiation of specific treatment to change the ominous natural history of this disease. This case shows the usefulness of the echography to make the differential diagnosis with other diseases that clinical onset could be similar than VKH, but with a different diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

Long-term efficacy of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the treatment of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease relapsing posterior uveitis

Purpose:

To investigate the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in the treatment of relapsing posterior uveitis in patients with chronic recurrent Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease.

Methods:

This was a prospective study of 29 eyes of 16 patients with posterior uveitis in chronic recurrent VKH disease. All patients received previous systemic steroid and immunosuppressive regimens. All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). All patients underwent intravitreal injection with sustained-release dexamethasone 0.7 mg implant (Ozurdex®). Primary outcome measures included mean change in BCVA and central foveal thickness (CFT) at 24 months of follow-up compared to the baseline.

Results:

At 24 month of follow-up, the mean BCVA improved from 0.82 ± 0.13 to 0.38 ± 0.06 logMAR (P < 0.0001). The mean CFT reduced from 505 ± 29 to 244 ± 23 um (P < 0.0001). The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) changed from 15.1 ± 2.2 to 16.9 ± 3.1 mmHg with no significant value (P-value = 0.0955). Twenty-one eyes (72.4%) received one injection, whereas eight eyes (27.6%) required two injections. The mean number of injections was 1.2 ± 0.60. The mean follow-up time was 24.75 ± 0.9 months. No serious ocular or systemic adverse events were noted during the follow-up period. Ocular hypertension was recorded in three (10.3%) eyes and controlled by IOP lowering medications. Cataract progression occurred in 11 (37.9%) eyes.

Conclusion:

Our cohort highlights the beneficial effects of the dexamethasone implant of 0.7 mg in the treatment of VKH disease relapsing posterior uveitis improving visual acuity, reducing macular edema, and minimizing the burden of systemic steroids in this sample study.

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.

The Steroid-Sparing Effect of Adalimumab in the Treatment for the Recurrent Phase of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease

PURPOSE

To reveal the steroid-sparing effect of adalimumab (ADA) in the treatment for the chronic recurrent phase of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease.

CASES AND METHODS

Thirty-six eyes from 18 cases of the recurrent phase of VKH disease treated with ADA over 12 months were examined retrospectively. Before the introduction of ADA, 4 cases received prednisolone (PSL) monotherapy and other 14 cases received PSL and cyclosporine A (CYA) combination therapy.

RESULTS

In cases treated with PSL and CYA, CYA was discontinued when ADA was introduced. The minimum dose of PSL to control intraocular inflammation (min dose of PSL) could be reduced in all cases after the introduction of ADA (from 16.9 ± 7.9 mg to 6.3 ± 3.1 mg). No serious adverse events were observed in the observational periods.

CONCLUSION

By comparing the min dose of PSL before and after the introduction of ADA, the steroid-sparing effect of ADA was confirmed.

Multicenter, retrospective, observational study for the Treatment Pattern of systemic corticoSTERoids for relapse of non-infectious uveitis accompanying Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease or sarcoidosis

PURPOSE

Non-infectious uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease or sarcoidosis is commonly treated with systemic corticosteroids (SCS). We assessed the use of SCS for non-infectious uveitis relapses in Japanese clinical practice.

STUDY DESIGN

Multicenter, retrospective chart review (UMIN Clinical Trial Registry; UMIN000032390).

METHODS

One hundred fifty-seven patients (15- ≤ 75 years; 103 VKH disease, 54 sarcoidosis) given SCS to treat a relapse of non-infectious intermediate, posterior, or panuveitis accompanying VKH disease or sarcoidosis were studied (August 2011-December 2018). SCS dose and duration, concomitant medications, subsequent relapses, and steroid-related adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were analyzed for 12 months after target relapse treatment. Relationships between background factors and total SCS dose were analyzed (logistic regression).

RESULTS

Mean (± SD) total SCS dose over 12 months after target relapse treatment was 3874 ± 2775 mg, and was higher in patients with immunosuppressants than in those without (4575 mg vs 3496 mg). Immunosuppressant use was the only factor significantly associated with higher total SCS dose (p = 0.0196). Mean duration of SCS treatment for relapse was 318.7 ± 89.3 days. Only 29.3% of patients were steroid-free after 12 months; the percentage was higher in patients without immunosuppressants (36.3% vs 16.4%). Subsequent relapse was experienced by 39.5% of patients, and 13.4% had a steroid-related ADR (mostly glaucoma or diabetes).

CONCLUSION

In Japanese clinical practice, many patients with recurrent uveitis accompanying VKH disease or sarcoidosis received SCS for relapse for ≥ 300 days, suggesting that reducing corticosteroids is challenging in patients with difficulty suppressing inflammation.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Here, we provide an overview of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH), including recent updates in our understanding of disease pathophysiology, classification and therapeutics.

RECENT FINDINGS

Advancements in bioinformatics, metabolomics and genomics investigations continue to illuminate VKH pathogenesis, and may provide insight into future therapeutic options. Multimodal imaging is indispensable in the initial evaluation of VKH, and is becoming increasingly important in understanding disease pathogenesis, as well as monitoring therapeutic response. Enhanced VKH classification criteria, released in 2021, provide standardized guidelines and terminology for clinical and research purposes.

SUMMARY

Modern research and imaging techniques continue to improve our understanding of VKH; more work is needed to further elucidate pathogenic mechanisms and establish optimal therapeutic recommendations.

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.

miRNA Landscape in Pathogenesis and Treatment of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease

miRNAs, one of the members of the noncoding RNA family, are regulators of gene expression in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Changes in miRNA pool expression have been associated with differentiation of CD4⁺ T cells toward an inflammatory phenotype and with loss of self-tolerance in autoimmune diseases. Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease is a chronic multisystemic pathology, affecting the uvea, inner ear, central nervous system, and skin. Several lines of evidence support an autoimmune etiology for VKH, with loss of tolerance against retinal pigmented epithelium-related self-antigens. This deleterious reaction is characterized by exacerbated inflammation, due to an aberrant T_H1 and T_H17 polarization and secretion of their proinflammatory hallmark cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-17, interferon γ, and tumor necrosis factor α, and an impaired CD4⁺ CD25^high FoxP3⁺ regulatory T cell function. To restrain inflammation, VKH is pharmacologically treated with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs as first and second line of therapy, respectively. Changes in the expression of miRNAs related to immunoregulatory pathways have been associated with VKH development, whereas some genetic variants of miRNAs have been found to be risk modifiers of VKH. Furthermore, the drugs commonly used in VKH treatment have great influence on miRNA expression, including those miRNAs associated to VKH disease. This relationship between response to therapy and miRNA regulation suggests that these small noncoding molecules might be therapeutic targets for the development of more effective and specific pharmacological therapy for VKH. In this review, we discuss the latest evidence regarding regulation and alteration of miRNA associated with VKH disease and its treatment.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada is a Curable Autoimmune Disease: Early Diagnosis and Immediate Dual Steroidal and Non-Steroidal Immunosuppression are Crucial Prerequisites

Purpose:

It is crucial to subdivide Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease into two subentities, initial-onset disease versus chronically evolving disease. For early diagnosis and precise follow-up of VKH choroiditis, the “Revised criteria for VKH” are no more sufficient for the appraisal of VKH and new biomarkers for disease activity are needed. It has been shown that, if initial-onset disease is treated promptly within the “therapeutic window of opportunity” and long enough with dual steroidal and non-steroidal immunosuppression, the disease can be cured in a large proportion of cases, an approach still contested. The proportion of chronic evolution and/or sunset-glow fundus (SGF) following steroidal monotherapy versus dual steroidal and non-steroidal immunosuppression was compared.

Methods:

A literature search was performed, identifying studies on initial-onset VKH treated either by steroidal monotherapy or dual immunosuppression. Evolution toward chronicity and/or SGF was compared in both groups.

Results:

Twenty studies were identified with reported long-term outcomes. In 16 studies, 802 patients received steroidal monotherapy, while in 4 studies, 172 patients received dual steroidal and non-steroidal immunosuppression. Chronic evolution and SGF occurred, respectively, in 44% and 59% in the corticosteroid-alone group versus 2.3% and 17.5% in the dual therapy group with no chronic evolution in three studies and no SGF in two studies.

Conclusions:

Chronic evolution and SGF are significantly less frequent in initial-onset VKH when treated with immediate dual steroidal and non-steroidal immunosuppression with a high proportion of healed cases. This combined approach seems recommended in the management of initial-onset VKH disease.

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.

Exudative Retinal Detachment in Ocular Inflammatory Diseases: Risk and Predictive Factors

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the risk and risk factors for exudative retinal detachment (ERD) in ocular inflammatory diseases.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Patients with noninfectious ocular inflammation had been followed longitudinally between 1978 and 2007 at 4 US subspecialty uveitis centers. The main outcome measurements were occurrences of ERD and predictive factors.

RESULTS

A total of 176 of 14,612 eyes with ocular inflammation presented with ERD. Among uveitis cases, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (VKH) (odds ratio [OR] = 109), undifferentiated choroiditis (OR = 9.18), sympathetic ophthalmia (OR = 8.43), primary or secondary panuveitis (OR = 7.09), multifocal choroiditis with panuveitis (OR = 4.51), and "other" forms of posterior uveitis (OR = 16.9) were associated with a higher prevalence of ERD. Among the 9,209 uveitic or scleritic eyes initially free of ERD and followed, 137 incident ERD cases were observed over 28,949 eye-years at risk (incidence rate = 0.47% [0.40%-0.56%/eye-year]). VKH (HR = 13.2), sympathetic ophthalmia (HR = 5.82), undifferentiated choroiditis (HR = 6.03), primary or secondary panuveitis (HR = 4.21), and rheumatoid arthritis (HR = 3.30) were significantly associated with incident ERD. A significant dose-response relationship with the prevalence and incidence of ERD were observed for AC cells and vitreous cell activity. African Americans had significantly higher prevalence and incidence of ERD.

CONCLUSIONS

Other ocular inflammatory conditions in addition to VKH syndrome and posterior scleritis were associated with increased risk of ERD, indicating that ERD does not necessarily dictate a diagnosis of VKH or posterior scleritis. In addition, the relationship between ERD and inflammatory severity factors implies that inflammation is a key predictive factor associated with developing ERD and requires early and vigorous control.

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.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: recurrence rates after initial-onset disease differ according to treatment modality and geographic area

Background/Purpose Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is a primary autoimmune stromal choroiditis producing a spill-over panuveitis. For initial-onset VKH disease, it is increasingly thought that corticosteroid therapy is not sufficient and additional non-steroidal immunosuppressive therapy is needed. At the 11th workshop on VKH, the disease was said to be well controlled with corticosteroids alone in Japanese patients. The aim of this study was to review the literature to determine whether different levels of severity exist in different geographical areas.

METHODS

Literature was reviewed for studies on the evolution of initial-onset VKH disease, looking at treatment modalities and proportion of cases with chronic evolution and/or sunset-glow fundus (SGF).

RESULTS

PubMed search yielded 1249 references containing the term of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada. Twenty references (15 from outside of Japan and 5 from Japan) contained information on the evolution of treated initial-onset disease. For the "international" group, percentage of chronic evolution after systemic corticosteroid monotherapy was 61%, and after combined steroidal and non-steroidal therapy it fell to 2% (0% in 3/4 studies). In the Japanese studies where all patients received systemic corticosteroids alone, chronic evolution was reported in 25%; however, SGF amounted to 61%.

CONCLUSION

In the world at large, chronic evolution of initial-onset VKH disease treated with corticosteroids alone concerned two-thirds of patients. Japanese studies showed that chronic evolution was substantially less frequent, indicating possibly less severe disease in Japan. This proportion fell to almost zero when dual steroidal and non-steroidal immunosuppression was given at onset.

Chronic Meningitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article describes the clinical presentation, diagnostic approach (including the use of novel diagnostic platforms), and treatment of select infectious and noninfectious etiologies of chronic meningitis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Identification of the etiology of chronic meningitis remains challenging, with no cause identified in at least one-third of cases. Often, several serologic, CSF, and neuroimaging studies are indicated, although novel diagnostic platforms including metagenomic deep sequencing may hold promise for identifying organisms. Infectious etiologies are more common in those at risk for disseminated disease, specifically those who are immunocompromised because of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), transplantation, or immunosuppressant medications. An important step in identifying the etiology of chronic meningitis is assembling a multidisciplinary team of individuals, including those with specialized expertise in ophthalmology, dermatology, rheumatology, and infectious diseases, to provide guidance regarding diagnostic procedures.

SUMMARY

Chronic meningitis is defined as inflammation involving the meninges that lasts at least 4 weeks and is associated with a CSF pleocytosis. Chronic meningitis has numerous possible infectious and noninfectious etiologies, making it challenging to definitively diagnose patients. Therefore, a multifaceted approach that combines history, physical examination, neuroimaging, and laboratory analysis, including novel diagnostic platforms, is needed. This article focuses on key aspects of the evaluation of and approach to patients with chronic meningitis. Specific infectious etiologies and differential diagnoses of subacute and chronic meningitis, including noninfectious etiologies, are addressed.

Clinical findings and outcomes for dogs with uveodermatologic syndrome

OBJECTIVE To evaluate signalment, clinical signs, treatment, and factors affecting visual prognosis in dogs with uveodermatologic syndrome (UDS). DESIGN Retrospective case series and nested cohort study. ANIMALS 50 dogs (37 Akitas and 13 non-Akitas) with UDS evaluated at 4 ophthalmology practices. PROCEDURES Data were collected from the medical records regarding signalment, clinical signs, biopsy results, medications, adverse effects, vision and glaucoma status at initial and subsequent examinations, and duration of follow-up. Various factors were examined for associations with development of blindness or glaucoma following initial examination. RESULTS The most common ophthalmic signs included aqueous flare (n = 35 [70%]), iris abnormalities (29 [58%]), retinal detachment (23 [46%]), and choroidal depigmentation or chorioretinal infiltrates (10 [20%]). At initial examination, 36% (18/50) of dogs had glaucoma and 57% (26/46) were blind in both eyes. Twenty-five (50%) dogs had vision at their final visit, representing 78% of the 32 dogs that had vision at initial examination or regained vision during the follow-up period. In dogs that lost vision, median time to permanent blindness in both eyes was 13.5 months (range, 0.4 to 59 months) after initial examination. No significant associations with time to glaucoma or vision loss were identified for signalment variables, specific medications, or duration of clinical signs prior to initial examination. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE UDS commonly resulted in glaucoma, vision loss, or both in affected dogs. No evaluated factor was associated with visual prognosis; however, a subset of patients maintained vision through to the final recheck examination.

Noninfectious uveitis in the Asia-Pacific region

Uveitis is a sight-threatening disease. Up to 35% of patients may have impaired vision. Inflammation of the uvea tissue has more than 60 etiologies. Previous reports have shown that 20-40% of uveitis cases were noninfectious. Some of them may be associated with systemic rheumatological and autoimmune diseases but some may affect the eyes only. The epidemiology and clinical situations of some specific uveitis entities vary worldwide because they are influenced by genetic, ethnic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors. The Asia-Pacific region comprises more than 30 countries. Epidemiology and patterns of uveitis vary greatly in this region. However, some uveitis entities, such as Behcet's disease, sarcoidosis, and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, are more common in this region. Many studies on the epidemiology, risk factors, and immune pathogenesis of this disease have been conducted. In this article, we review the epidemiology of noninfectious uveitis and special situations of these three uveitis entities in the Asia-Pacific region.

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.

[Vitiligo revealing Vogt -Koyanagi-Harada disease]

Le vitiligo est une dermatose chronique auto-immune, souvent associé ou fait découvrir d'autres pathologies auto-immunes. Son association à une atteinte ophtalmologique à type de pan uvéite et /ou une atteinte neurologique à type de méningite et/ou de l'oreille interne à type de surdité détermine la maladie ou le syndrome de Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH). Nous rapportons le cas d'une jeune femme qui consultait pour des uvéites récidivantes depuis un an, Et ce n'était qu'avec l'apparition des lésions de vitiligo que le diagnostic de maladie de VKH a été évoqué et confirmé.

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.

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.

Earlier immunomodulatory treatment is associated with better visual outcomes in a subset of patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

PURPOSE

To evaluate clinical outcomes of first-line immunomodulatory therapy (IMT) and prednisone alone or late IMT in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of 152 patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease evaluated in a referral uveitis clinic in Chile from 1985 to 2011. Medical records of these patients were reviewed. Demographic data, clinical evaluation, type of treatment, functional outcomes, glucocorticoid (GC) dose and complications were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify prognostic factors of poor response to GC.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between first-line IMT group and prednisone alone/late IMT group in terms of visual acuity (VA) improvement, complications and GC sparing effect. There was a trend for a higher frequency of systemic adverse effects leading to discontinuation of treatment in patients receiving IMT than in those receiving prednisone (14.6% and 6.5%, respectively). The subgroup of patients with poor response to GC who showed functional improvement had a significantly earlier time to IMT initiation than the patients who had no improvement. We identified following prognostic factors of poor response to GC: VA ≤ 20/200, fundus depigmentation, chronic disease and tinnitus at diagnosis. Patients with a prognostic factor (excluding tinnitus) and VA improvement had an earlier IMT initiation than those who had worse functional outcome.

CONCLUSION

There were no differences in outcomes between first-line IMT and prednisone alone/late IMT in the entire VKH group. However, in a subset of patients, there was a significant better functional outcome with earlier IMT initiation.

Incidence and clinical features of recurrent Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease in Japanese individuals

PURPOSE

Our aim was to determine the recurrence rate of inflammation in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease and to describe its clinical features.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated patients diagnosed as having VKH disease with exudative retinal detachment at the Osaka University Hospital or the Japanese Community Healthcare Organization, Osaka Hospital, between 1998 and 2012. All patients received high-dose corticosteroid therapy as the initial treatment and were followed for at least 6 months. Demographic data, including age, sex, visual acuity (VA) levels at initial presentation and at 1 year after initial therapy, treatment received, and recurrent episodes were reviewed.

RESULTS

Fifty-five consecutive patients with VKH disease were identified (36 women; mean age 38.6 ± 10.4 years). Fourteen patients (25.5 %) had recurrent inflammation, which manifested as posterior uveitis in eight and as anterior uveitis in six of the patients. Recurrent posterior segment inflammation was more likely to develop in patients whose VA at initial presentation was poor (P = 0.039) and in whom orally administered corticosteroid was tapered rapidly (to 30 mg within 3 weeks or less, to 20 mg within 2 months or less, and to 10 mg within 3 months or less) (P = 0.006, P = 0.066, and P = 0.041, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

About 25 % of patients with VKH disease had recurrent inflammation. Poor initial VA and rapid tapering of the corticosteroid were associated with posterior recurrence.

Prognostic factors for clinical outcomes in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease treated with high-dose corticosteroids

PURPOSE

To determine prognostic factors in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease who were treated with high-dose corticosteroids.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 87 patients (174 eyes).

RESULTS

At presentation, there were 53 patients with initial-onset acute VKH disease and 34 patients with chronic recurrent VKH disease. Chronic recurrent presentation was significantly associated with more severe anterior segment inflammation at presentation as indicated by presence of mutton-fat keratic precipitates, anterior chamber reaction ≥2+, iris nodules and posterior synechiae (p < 0.001 for all comparisons), less exudative retinal detachment at presentation (p < 0.001), more complications during the follow-up period (p < 0.001) and a worse visual outcome (p < 0.001). The use of immunomodulatory therapy (cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil) as first-line therapy significantly reduced the development of complications in the whole study group (p = 0.006) and in initial-onset acute group (p = 0.024) and improved visual outcome in the whole study group (p = 0.004) and in chronic recurrent group (p = 0.024). In the whole study group, final visual acuity of 20/20 was significantly associated with good initial visual acuity of >20/200 [odds ratio = 4.25; 95% Confidence interval (CI) = 1.53-11.89] and age older than 16 years was significantly associated with the development of complications (odds ratio = 3.15; 95% CI = 1.04-9.48).

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic recurrent VKH disease is significantly associated with more severe anterior segment inflammation and less exudative retinal detachment at presentation, more ocular complications and a worse visual outcome than initial-onset acute VKH disease. Use of immunomodulatory therapy significantly improved the clinical outcomes.

The outcomes of mycophenolate mofetil therapy combined with systemic corticosteroids in acute uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

PURPOSE

To study the effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as first-line therapy combined with systemic corticosteroids in acute uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. The outcomes in this group were compared with those of another group of patients with VKH disease who were treated with corticosteroid monotherapy or with delayed addition of immunomodulatory therapy.

METHODS

This prospective study included 19 patients (38 eyes) diagnosed with acute uveitis associated with VKH disease.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 27.0 ± 11.1 months (range 16-54 months). Corticosteroid-sparing effect was achieved in all patients. The mean interval between starting treatment and tapering prednisone to 10 mg or less daily was 5.1 ± 1.2 months (range 3-7 months). Ten (53%) patients discontinued treatment without relapse of inflammation. The mean time observed of treatment was 17.3 ± 11.9 months (range 3-41.5 months). Visual acuity of 20/20 was achieved by 38% of the eyes in the corticosteroid group and by 74% in the corticosteroid + MMF group (p < 0.001). Recurrent inflammation of ≥3 times was reduced significantly (p = 0.0383) in the corticosteroid + MMF group (3%) as compared to corticosteroid group (18%). Development of all complications was significantly higher in the corticosteroid group (43%) compared with the corticosteroid + MMF group (8%) (p < 0.001). None of the eyes in the corticosteroid + MMF group developed 'sunset glow fundus'.

CONCLUSIONS

Addition of MMF as first-line therapy to corticosteroids in patients with acute uveitis associated with VKH disease leads to significant reduction in recurrences of uveitis and development of late complications and significantly improves visual outcome.