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Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada disease presenting initially as aseptic meningoencephalitis
Author(s) -
Kamondi A.,
Szegedi A.,
Papp A.,
Seres A.,
Szirmai I.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-1331.2000.00156.x
Subject(s) - medicine , aseptic meningitis , vogt–koyanagi–harada disease , meningoencephalitis , incidence (geometry) , disease , cerebrospinal fluid , aseptic processing , meningitis , dermatology , pediatrics , pathology , surgery , physics , optics
Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease in a Gypsy woman was diagnosed 4 months after her initial complaints. The delay is explained by the facts that: (1) the characteristic ophthalmological symptoms, which usually herald the disease and ensure early diagnosis, developed only late during the course; and (2) only retrospective analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cell preparation proved the presence of melanin‐laden macrophages (MLMs), specific for the syndrome. We emphasize that VKH syndrome may initially present as aseptic meningitis, without specific ophthalmological symptoms. In suspected cases a very detailed CSF cell analysis is needed, because the presence of MLMs could confirm the diagnosis. However, VKH syndrome has a much higher incidence in Asia; cases in other races, including white people in Europe, also occur.