Vogt-koyanagi-harada syndrome

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Immunology
• Genetics

Background:

• Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome is a chronic, diffuse granulomatous panuveitis.
• It commonly affects individuals of pigmented races and presents with neurological, auditory, and integumentary symptoms.
• VKH syndrome is a significant cause of uveitis worldwide.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current developments in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome.
• To cover epidemiology, etiology, clinical features, diagnostics, genetics, treatment, and prognosis.
• To highlight advancements in understanding and managing this condition.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome.
• Analysis of clinical features across diverse ethnic populations.
• Examination of immunological and genetic factors.

Main Results:

• The etiology of VKH syndrome remains incompletely understood but is strongly indicated as autoimmune.
• Th17 cells play a crucial role in the disease's initiation and progression.
• Aggressive early treatment with corticosteroids and immunomodulatory agents like cyclosporine, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, and azathioprine has improved visual outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Prognosis for VKH syndrome has significantly improved due to aggressive immunosuppressive therapy.
• Further multi-center studies are required to establish optimal treatment protocols.
• Targeting the IL17/23 pathway presents a promising therapeutic strategy for VKH syndrome.