[A report of two cases suggesting positive influence of pregnancy on uveitis activity]

Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi. 1999 Jan;103(1):66-71.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the influence of pregnancy on uveitis activity. We report two cases suggesting a favorable influence of pregnancy on the clinical course of uveitis.

Case: A 30-year-old woman who was three months pregnant was suspected Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease based on the systemic symptoms and ocular findings of iritis and multi-focal serous retinal detachment. She was positive to human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR 4. She was treated only with topical corticosteroids. One month later, the retinal detachment disappeared. Six month later, a healthy baby was born. The fundus of both eyes took on a sunset glow appearance and there has been no recurrence of uveitis. The other case was a 23-year-old woman with Behçet's disease who had several episodes of uveitis in a year even on tacrolimus. Because of pregnancy, all systemic drugs including tacrolimus were discontinued since then. Interestingly, the frequency of uveitis was remarkably decreased during the pregnancy. A normal healthy baby was born. The uveitis has almost completely disappeared since parturition until now.

Conclusion: It is considered that the increase of intrinsic hormone, especially corticosteroid, and some other factors with pregnancy may give the suppressive influence on uveitis in our cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / physiopathology*
  • Remission, Spontaneous
  • Uveitis / physiopathology*