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Efficacy of infliximab therapy in two patients with refractory Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease
  1. L Niccoli1,
  2. C Nannini1,
  3. E Cassarà1,
  4. G Gini2,
  5. I Lenzetti2,
  6. F Cantini1
  1. 1
    2nd Division of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, Hospital of Prato, Prato, Italy
  2. 2
    Division of Ophthalmology, Hospital of Prato, Prato, Italy
  1. Correspondence to Dr F Cantini, 2∧ Divisione di Medicina, Unità Reumatologica, Ospedale Misericordia e Dolce di Prato, Piazza Ospedale, 1-59100 Prato, Italy; fcantini{at}usl4.toscana.it

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.2008.153981

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    Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease (VKH) is an autoimmune disorder characterised by bilateral granulomatous panuveitis variously associated with extraocular features such as aseptic meningitis, tinnitus, hypoacousia, alopecia, vitiligo and poliosis to configure complete or incomplete forms.1

    A consistent percentage of patients experience mild to severe ocular complications with reduction in visual acuity (VA) and possible blindness.2

    High-dose corticosteroids (CS) are the cornerstone to avoid complications and the progression to the chronic recurrent phase of the disease.1

    Immunosuppressive drugs are usually added in case of CS failure or intolerance.1 However, in some patients, VKH does not subside, leading to permanent ocular damages.2

    We describe the successful employment of infliximab, an anti-TNFα chimeric antibody, in two patients with refractory VKH.

    Patient 1

    In March 2003, a 37-year-old, previously …

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    Footnotes

    • Competing interests None.

    • Provenance and Peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Ethics approval Ethics approval was provided by the Ethical Committee of Prato.

    • Patient consent Obtained.