Abstract
Purpose: To study the effectiveness of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as first-line therapy in acute uveitis associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. The outcomes in this group were compared with those of another group of patients who were treated with corticosteroid monotherapy. Methods: 19 patients(38 eyes) diagnosed with acute uveitis associated with VKH were included prospectively. Results: The mean follow-up period was 27.0±11.1 months. Corticosteroid-sparing effect was achieved in all patients. Ten patients discontinued treatment without relapse of inflammation. Visual acuity of 20/20 was achieved by 37.5% of the eyes in the corticosteroid group and by 73.7% in the corticosteroid + MMF group. Recurrent inflammation of 3 times or more was reduced significantly in the corticosteroid + MMF group as compared to corticosteroid group. Development of all complications was significantly higher in the corticosteroid group (42.6%) compared to the corticosteroid + MMF group (7.9%). None of the eyes in the corticosteroid + MMF group developed "sunset glow fundus". Conclusions: Addition of MMF as first-line therapy to corticosteroids improves clinical outcomes in patients with acute uveitis associated with VKH disease. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]