Headache and bilateral visual loss in a young hypothyroid Indian man

We describe the exceptional association of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (V KHS) and hypothyroidism in a 29-year-old man of Indian heritage. VKHS is a rare uveomeningoencephalitic syndrome with probably autoimmune pathogenesis . Nontraumatic uveitis, aseptic meningoencephalitis, vitiligo, alopecia and poliosis are the leading clinical features of VKHS. The reported patient p resented with bilateral visual loss and progressive frontal headache. VKHS was diagnosed due to characteristic ophthalmological findings and the diagn osis of aseptic meningitis. Due to the autoimmune pathogenesis, VKHS may be rarely associated with other autoimmune disorders. Association of VKHS wit h autoimmune thyroid disease has been described in the literature in three patients. In the reported case hypothyroidism due to chronic autommune thyr oiditis was diagnosed in association with VKHS. Routinely determination of thyroid function in patients with VKHS is recommended. (C) 1999, Editrice K urtis.