To report the first series of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease from the Middle East.
Methods
We retrospectively included patients with diagnosis of VKH, divided into two groups: Group 1, consisting of patients arrived at our tertiary reference center in the early-stage of the disease and receiving prompt therapy with prednisolone 1mg/Kg associated or not with immunosuppressant; Group 2, consisting of patients with late-stage disease at our first observation who had not received proper therapy during the acute phase. Systemic associations, multimodal imaging, duration of follow-up, relapses, treatment used, local and systemic complications were recorded.
Results
38 eyes of 19 patients(mean age 23.8 years)met the SUN criteria for VKH; 10 patients (52.6%) were assigned to Group 1, while 9 (47.4%) to Group 2. Seven (70%) patients of Group 1 received in the early-stage both systemic steroids and immunosuppressant. In Group 1, none of the patients developed cataract and subretinal fibrosis, 1(10%) had a steroid-induced ocular hypertension in both eyes (medically controlled) and one eye (5%) developed choroidal neovascularization (CNV). In Group 2, cataracts and glaucoma complicated 14 eyes (77.7%), CNVs 3 eyes (16,6%) and subretinal fibrosis 5 eyes (27.7%). Furthermore, the total amount of recurrences in the Group 1 was 8, while in Group 2 was 23. The difference between the 2 groups in terms of cataract and glaucoma complications was statistically significant (p<0.01), as well as the total amount of recurrences.
Conclusion
Middle Eastern patients with VKH seem to show an earlier age of disease onset. A prompt treatment with high systemic steroid dose, possibly associated with immunosuppressant seems to reduce the number of recurrences and complications.
Conflict of interest
No
Authors 1
Last name
SATURNO
Initials of first name(s)
M.C.
Department
Clinica Mediterranea
City
Naples
Country
Italy
Authors 2
Last name
Aljneibi
Initials of first name(s)
S.
Department
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
City
Abu Dhabi
Country
United Arab Emirates
Authors 3
Last name
Neri
Initials of first name(s)
P.
Department
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
City
Abu Dhabi
Country
United Arab Emirates
Authors 4
Last name
Pichi
Initials of first name(s)
F.
Department
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
City
Abu Dhabi
Country
United Arab Emirates
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