Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease in identical twins.
BACKGROUND
Certain aspects in the development of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease are documented, and immunogenetic studies have revealed a high relevance of some HLA types. Roles of possible environmental factors in disease onset are not fully understood, however.


METHODS
Two cases involving monozygotic twin sisters who were diagnosed as having VKH disease and followed for more than 2 years are presented.


RESULTS
Both patients showed the diffuse panuveitis that is characteristic of VKH disease and shared the same HLA typings. However, there was a 16-year time lag between onset of disease in the two patients, and many differences in their lifestyles before disease onset were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Although certain endogenous factors play an important role in the development of VKH disease, some exogenous factors may also affect the onset of the disease.
Ishikawa
A
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan.
Shiono
T
T
Uchida
S
S
D000328:Adult; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics*; D014607:Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*