Possible Association between Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease and Coronavirus Disease Vaccine: A Report of Four Cases.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) syndrome is an autoimmune, multisystemic disease characterized by severe bilateral granulomatous posterior, which can occur due to viral infection or vaccination. We report four cases that had a likely association between VKH disease and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination. Two patients had VKH symptoms within 1 and 2 weeks after receiving the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. One patient presented with VKH symptoms 5 days after receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine, and one patient had symptoms within 4 weeks after receiving the CoronaVac vaccine. Early diagnosis and treatment of VKH disease are essential for the visual prognosis of this aggressive disease. Further in-depth studies are necessary to investigate this likely association to enable ophthalmologists to identify new assumed correlations between the diseases described in this study.

Long-term use of topical tacrolimus ointment: a safe and effective option for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis / Uso prolongado de tacrolimus tópico: opção eficaz e segura no tratamento da ceratoconjuntivite vernal

ABSTRACT Purpose: To assess the compliance, efficacy, and safety of the long-term use of topical tacrolimus for the clinical management of vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Methods: The medical records of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis undergoing long-term treatment with 0.03% topical tacrolimus were retrospectively reviewed. The duration of tacrolimus use and the causes for drug discontinuation were used to assess treatment compliance. To assess drug efficacy, the need for and the number of times that topical corticosteroids were used to control symptoms were registered. Side effects related to tacrolimus use were monitored to determine drug safety. Results: The study cohort consisted of 21 patients who met the eligibility criteria. The mean duration of tacrolimus use was 41.3 ± 18.5 months. Fourteen patients (66.7%) continuously used tacrolimus, and three (14.3%) discontinued treatment following complete remission. Four patients (19%) did not use tacrolimus as prescribed or interrupted tacrolimus use on their own: two (9.5%) because of discomfort upon application and two (9.5%) because of the lack of improvement. Ten patients (47.6%) maintained disease control without the use of corticosteroids, whereas 11 (52.4%) required an average of 2.70 ± 1.35 corticosteroid cycles to control symptoms. The only reported side effect was discomfort upon application. Conclusions: Despite the small sample size and study design limitations, these results support the long-term use of topical tacrolimus as an effective and safe option for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, with good compliance of patients to the treatment.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a aderência, a eficácia e segurança do uso prolongado de tacrolimus tópico no controle clínico da ceratoconjuntivite vernal. Métodos: Um estudo retrospectivo foi desenvolvido através da análise de prontuários de pacientes com ceratoconjuntivite vernal em tratamento prolongado com tacrolimus tópico 0,03%. A duração do tempo de uso do ta­crolimus e as causas de descontinuação da medicação foram usadas para avaliar a adesão ao tratamento. Para avaliar a eficácia da droga, a necessidade e o número de vezes em que corticoides tópicos foram utilizados para controlar os sintomas foram registrados. Os efeitos colaterais relacionados ao uso do tacrolimus foram monitorados para determinar a segurança da droga. Resultados: Vinte e um pacientes preencheram os critérios de eleição e foram incluídos no estudo. A duração média do uso de tacrolimus foi de 41,3 ± 18,5 meses. Quatorze pacientes (66,7%) usaram continuamente o tacrolimus e 3 (14,3%) descontinuaram o tratamento após a remissão completa. Quatro pacientes (19%) não usaram o tacrolimus conforme prescrito ou interromperam o uso da droga isoladamente: 2 (9,5%) por desconforto na aplicação e 2 (9,5%) pela falta de melhora. Dez pacientes (47,6%) mantiveram a doença sob controle sem o uso de corticoides, enquanto 11 (52,4%) necessitaram em média 2,70 ± 1,35 ciclos corticoides para controle dos sintomas. O único efeito adverso relatado foi desconforto na aplicação. Conclusões: Apesar do pequeno tamanho da amostra e das limitações do desenho do estudo, esses resultados suportam o uso prolongado do tacrolimus tópico como opção eficaz e segura para o tratamento da ceratoconjuntivite vernal, com boa adesão dos pacientes ao tratamento.

Long-term use of topical tacrolimus ointment: a safe and effective option for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: To assess the compliance, efficacy, and safety of the long-term use of topical tacrolimus for the clinical management of vernal keratoconjunctivitis. METHODS: The medical records of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis undergoing long-term treatment with 0.03% topical tacrolimus were retrospectively reviewed. The duration of tacrolimus use and the causes for drug discontinuation were used to assess treatment compliance. To assess drug efficacy, the need for and the number of times that topical corticosteroids were used to control symptoms were registered. Side effects related to tacrolimus use were monitored to determine drug safety. RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of 21 patients who met the eligibility criteria. The mean duration of tacrolimus use was 41.3 ± 18.5 months. Fourteen patients (66.7%) continuously used tacrolimus, and three (14.3%) discontinued treatment following complete remission. Four patients (19%) did not use tacrolimus as prescribed or interrupted tacrolimus use on their own: two (9.5%) because of discomfort upon application and two (9.5%) because of the lack of improvement. Ten patients (47.6%) maintained disease control without the use of corticosteroids, whereas 11 (52.4%) required an average of 2.70 ± 1.35 corticosteroid cycles to control symptoms. The only reported side effect was discomfort upon application. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the small sample size and study design limitations, these results support the long-term use of topical tacrolimus as an effective and safe option for the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis, with good compliance of patients to the treatment.