Avastin for choroidal neovascularization secondary to Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome A report of two patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome and Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) that were successfully treated with Avastin (bevacizumab) is presented.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome is characterized by bilateral diffuse uveitis associated with auditory, neurological, and cutaneous signs and symptoms. VKH syndrome is a cell-mediated autoimmune disease against melanocytes. CNV occurs in 15% of VKH patients and is associated with poor visual prognosis.

One of the VKH patients had an extrafoveal CNV membrane and underwent multiple intravitreal injections of bevacizumab in combination with laser photocoagulation, with subsequent improvement in visual acuity. The second had a subfoveal CNV that responded to a single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab.

The authors conclude that intravitreal Avastin may be a useful drug to treat CNV in eyes with VKH syndrome.

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Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2009 Jan-Feb;53(1):57-60. Epub 2009 Jan 30.