Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome and ulcerative colitis.
The Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome is an uncommon disorder characterized by uveitis and neurologic and cutaneous abnormalities, including tinnitus, vertigo, headache, meningoencephalitis, vitiligo, alopecia, and poliosis. The VKH syndrome has been reported to occur in association with other autoimmune disorders. We report a case of a patient with severe ulcerative colitis who developed VKH syndrome. We postulate that the patient's history of a traumatic brain injury might have been responsible for an abnormal "immunologic milieu" and the occurrence of ulcerative colitis, VKH syndrome, and severe reactive arthritis.
Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. daniel.federman@med.va.gov
Daniel G
DG
Federman
Jeffrey D
JD
Kravetz
Christopher B
CB
Ruser
Peter H
PH
Judson
Robert S
RS
Kirsner
D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014607:Uveomeningoencephalitic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011241:Prednisone