Evaluation of pulse corticosteroid therapy for vogt-koyanagi-harada disease assessed by optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the rapid effects of pulse corticosteroid therapy on the serous retinal detachment found at the acute phase of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

DESIGN

Interventional case series.

METHODS

Nine Japanese patients determined to be at the acute phase of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease with serous retinal detachment were treated with pulse corticosteroid therapy. Optical coherence tomography was used to follow the resolution of the retinal detachment.

RESULTS

Optical coherence tomography images showed a marked decrease in the retinal detachment immediately after the first intravenous injection of corticosteroid and subsequent resolution.

CONCLUSION

The rapid improvement of serous retinal detachment associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease following pulse corticosteroid therapy supports an early therapeutic mechanism related to improved permeability of capillaries and permeability of the blood-retinal barrier rather than an anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive action.