Early resolution of subretinal fluid without high-dose corticosteroids in a pregnant patient with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: a case report

BACKGROUND At present, there is no standard of treatment using systemic high-dose corticosteroids in cases of pregnant women with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. Although high-dose systemic corticosteroid treatment is often used for VKH disease during pregnancy, it also poses a risk to the fetus. FINDINGS A 29-year-old woman in the 34th week of pregnancy experienced bilateral metamorphopsia. She had been receiving 5 mg of prednisolone daily for the past 8 years as treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. In order to prevent progression of bilateral serous retinal detachment caused by VKH disease, we recommended the use of high-dose systemic corticosteroids but the patient refused. Thus, we administered only topical ophthalmic betamethasone for mild anterior uveitis. Surprisingly, however, the bilateral bullous retinal detachment healed in just 19 days after the onset of symptoms. A healthy baby was born 1 month later, and sunset glow fundus was subsequently observed without any recurrence of uveitis. CONCLUSIONS We report a case in which bilateral subretinal fluid caused by VKH disease in a young woman during late pregnancy resolved without high-dose corticosteroid treatment. Pregnancy may have had a beneficial effect on uveitis activity caused by VKH disease. To our knowledge, this report describes the shortest healing period for bilateral bullous retinal detachment in a pregnant woman with VKH disease.