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Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome
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Overview
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome is a condition that involves chronic inflammation of melanocytes, which are specialized cells that produce a pigment called melanin. Melanin is the substance that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color. Melanin is also found in the retina, where it plays a role in normal vision. Individuals with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome usually develop vision and hearing disturbances first, followed by signs of skin problems. Research suggests this condition is an autoimmune disease. Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome is more common in individuals with darker skin pigmentation including Asian, Middle Eastern, Hispanic, and Native American populations.[1][2]
References
- Choczaj-Kukula A.. Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome. Emedicine. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1118177-overview. Accessed October 28,2010.
- Fang W, Yang P.. Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada. Current Eye Research. May, 2008. Accessed October 28, 2010.
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General Information
- The National Eye Institute (NEI) provides more information on this topic. You can reach them by calling 301-496-5248 or by E-mail at 2020@nei.nih.gov
- The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a federation of more than 130 nonprofit voluntary health organizations serving people with rare disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
- Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge. Click on the link to read information on this topic.
- PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
- eMedicine has two articles on this topic from the perspective of dermatology and ophthalmology. You may need to register to view the information online, but registration is free. Click on the links above to view the articles from this medical reference Web site.
- The American Uveitis Society has a patient education page on Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome.