Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease in Thai patients.

OBJECTIVES

To study the demographic, clinical manifestations, treatment and visual outcome of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) in a group of Thai patients.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Patients with VKH disease in Pramongkutklao Hospital from January 1998 to December 2002 were identified. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, treatment, and outcome were analyzed.

RESULTS

Among the 33 patients, there were 12 males and 21 females with a mean age of onset of 35 +/- 13.4 year-old (range 17-67). Serous retinal detachment was detected in 48%. Transient hearing loss, vitiligo, poliosis and alopecia occurred in 18%, 24%, 15% and 33% respectively. Forty two percent of the patients were treated with systemic corticosteroids alone and 58% with a combination of steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. At the end of the follow-up, visual acuity (VA) improved in 55%, remained unchanged in 36% and worsened in 9% of the eyes. Final VA of equal or better than 20/40 was obtained in 76%. The mean follow-up time was 21.6 +/- 14.9 months (range 2-64).

CONCLUSION

Demographic data, clinical manifestations, and treatment outcome of this group of Thai patients are comparable with studies from other countries.