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Headache in late pregnancy: a symptom for Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease

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Abstract

Headache in late pregnancy is warning of the presence of severe and/or lethal disorders. Here, we present a case of Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease (VKH), in which headache was the preceding and predominant symptom. At 37 weeks of pregnancy, a Japanese 1-para woman with an uneventful pregnancy complained of severe headache and then blurred vision. Although we initially diagnosed this condition as pregnancy-associated retinal detachment, headache and blurred vision persisted after delivery. Eye anterior segment lesions appeared and VKH disease was diagnosed, with systemic steroid administration completely ameliorating both the headache and visual disturbance. Obstetricians must be aware that headache may be the first sign of VKH disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan

    Shigeki Matsubara & Tomoyuki Kuwata

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan

    Yuriko Ohkawara & Shinji Makino

Authors
  1. Shigeki Matsubara
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  2. Tomoyuki Kuwata
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  3. Yuriko Ohkawara
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  4. Shinji Makino
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Correspondence to Shigeki Matsubara.

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Matsubara, S., Kuwata, T., Ohkawara, Y. et al. Headache in late pregnancy: a symptom for Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease. Arch Gynecol Obstet 283, 1423–1425 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1748-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-010-1748-y

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