[Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. Eight cases].

PURPOSE: Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease is a rare systemic affection characterised by the association of ocular inflammatory manifestations and extra ocular lesions such as meningismus, tegumentary or auditory findings observed in pigmented population. Auto-immune origin of this syndrome is probable; a T-lymphocyte-mediated autoimmune process is directed against an unidentified antigen associated with melanocytes.

METHODS

The aim of this retrospective study is to determine their clinical profile in our country.

RESULTS

Eight consecutive cases of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease were studied during a 22-year period. All the patients fulfilled the criteria of American Uveitis Society. All patients were female and had bilateral ocular involvement as panuveitis. Retinal serous detachment was observed in 4 patients, meningitis in 6 cases. 7 patients had hearing loss and 5 patients had cutaneous lesions represented by poliosis. Corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive therapy were administered in all patients leading to improvement in 5 patients.

CONCLUSION

Our series are concording with a usually good ocular prognosis. Immunosuppressive therapy should be used early in posterior segment involvement.