*Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome / disease
Summary
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH disease) affects the eyes, ears, nervous system, and skin. The symptoms of VKH occur in different phases. The early symptoms include headaches, eye pain, and dizziness. These are followed by hearing loss and inflammation of the eye (panuveitis). Later symptoms include development of white patches of skin and hair (vitiligo), hair loss (alopecia), cataracts, and glaucoma. The exact cause of VKH disease is unknown, but the symptoms are thought to be due to an abnormal response of the immune system to a viral infection. Genetic factors may be involved. Diagnosis of VKH disease is based on the symptoms, clinical exam, and imaging studies. Other more common diseases may need to be excluded before a diagnosis of VKH disease is made.
From the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD).
Symptoms
Eyebrow color abnormalities (very frequent), eyelash color abnormalities (very frequent), impaired thinking (very frequent), patchy loss of skin color (very frequent), white patches of head hair (very frequent), premature hair greying (very frequent), nerve-related hearing loss (very frequent), thin scalp hair (very frequent), blotchy loss of skin color (a.k.a. vitiligo, very frequent), cataract (frequent), glaucoma (frequent), retinal detachment (frequent), short stature (frequent), visual impairment (frequent).
From the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD).
Diagnostic Criteria
Under Investigation
Diagnostic Tests
Under Investigation
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Associations
Under Investigation
Tissue-Type or Cell-Type Attacked
Under Investigation
Attacking Immune Cell Type or Process
Under Investigation
Treatment Modality
Under Investigation
Managing Specialist(s)
Under Investigation
Associated Infections
Under Investigation
Associated Toxins
Under Investigation
Research Authors
Under Investigation
Research Institutions
Under Investigation
Average Time From Symptom Onset to Diagnosis
Under Investigation
Last Updated
October 14, 2022
References
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center. (2021, November 8). Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/7862/vogt-koyanagi-harada-disease