UVEITIS, WITH POLIOSIS, VITILIGO, ALOPECIA AND DYSACOUSIA

Abstract

Bilateral uveitis associated with alopecia, poliosis, vitiligo and dysacousia has been described in ophthalmic literature 47 times. Recently the name Vogt-Koyanagi syndrome has been offered to supplant these harsh sounding terms,¹ and Martínez² has attempted to rename the syndrome Vogt-Harada disease. The latter suggestion has a further purpose than mere lingual torsion, for Martínez has tried to link the signs and symptoms of the more malignant Vogt-Koyanagi syndrome with those of the usually benign Harada disease. According to Babel's definition a case of nontraumatic bilateral uveitis accompanied by any or all of the associated signs—namely, poliosis, vitiligo, alopecia and dysacousia—should be regarded as an instance of the Vogt-Koyanagi syndrome.³ This definition has been accepted for the purposes of the present study. It is known that the disease in question has a protracted course, responds poorly to treatment and usually terminates in partial or complete blindness. The purpose