Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease: A Narrative Review

April 2024 in “ Cureus ”

Ayushi Tayal, Sachin Daigavane, Nivesh Gupta

alopecia vitiligo uveitis melanocytes HLA-DR4 HLA-DRw53 systemic steroids immunosuppressants

TLDR Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease affects vision and skin, mainly in people with darker skin, and is treated with steroids and immunosuppressants.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is an idiopathic immune-related condition affecting multiple systems, particularly melanocytes in the uvea, ear, and meninges, with cellular immunological responses as the primary cause. It is characterized by skin abnormalities, anterior uveitis, neurological symptoms, and exudative retinal detachments, linked to the HLA-DR4 and HLA-DRw53 genes. VKH disease is more prevalent in pigmented races like Hispanics and Native Americans. Clinical features include blurred vision, floaters, alopecia, vitiligo, diffuse choroidal inflammation, and exudative retinal detachment. Diagnosis involves optical coherence tomography, fundus fluorescein angiography, and B-scan ultrasonography. Treatment includes systemic steroids, cycloplegics, and immunosuppressants.

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