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The association of systemic disorders with Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada and sympathetic ophthalmia

  • Inflammatory Disorders
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Abstract

Background

The aim of this work is to determine the systemic diseases and malignancy associated with Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease compared to sympathetic ophthalmia (SO).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective comparative observational clinical study where the medical records of patients with the diagnosis of VKH and SO from 1999–2009 were reviewed. The study was carried out at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital and The Eye Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Investigators recorded the age, gender, history of trauma, associated systemic disorders, and ocular and systemic manifestations. Patients were examined by an ophthalmologist as well as an internist.

Results

A total of 316 patients were included: 256 patients had VKH and 60 patients had SO. The age range in the VKH group was 3–62 years with a mean age of 29 ± 13 years. The age range in the SO group was 4–90 years with a mean age of 36 ± 20 years. The mean follow-up period of patients with VKH was 58 ± 50 months and patients with SO was 61 ± 54 months. Out of 256 patients with VKH, there were 41 (16%) with systemic disorders. Comparatively, out of 60 patients with SO, no associated systemic autoimmune disorders or tumors were encountered. The difference between the VKH and SO groups was statistically significant (p = 0.003).

Conclusions

VKH and SO are autoimmune disorders targeting melanin-bearing cells. Both diseases are characterized by immunologic dysregulation. We found a statistically significant association of systemic disorders and malignancy with VKH compared to SO. This finding may suggest that the two disorders may have different etiology with similar ocular and systemic manifestations.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by funding from The Eye Center and The Eye Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology and the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Financial disclosures

The authors have no proprietary or commercial interests in any of the materials discussed in this study.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Ali Al-Halafi & Hassan Al Dhibi

  2. The Eye Center and the Eye Foundation for Research in Ophthalmology, 241 Makkah, Road, PO Box 55307, Riyadh, 11534, Saudi Arabia

    Issam H. Hamade, Charbel T. Bou Chacra & Khalid F. Tabbara

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Khalid F. Tabbara

  4. The Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Khalid F. Tabbara

Authors
  1. Ali Al-Halafi
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  2. Hassan Al Dhibi
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  3. Issam H. Hamade
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  4. Charbel T. Bou Chacra
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  5. Khalid F. Tabbara
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Khalid F. Tabbara.

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Al-Halafi, A., Dhibi, H.A., Hamade, I.H. et al. The association of systemic disorders with Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada and sympathetic ophthalmia. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 249, 1229–1233 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-011-1727-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-011-1727-4

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