Early immunosuppressive treatment for Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Influência de imunomodulação Precoce Influence of Early Immunosuppressive Therapy on the Course of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease: a Prospective Study

Not applicable Interventional University of Sao Paulo · NCT03399175

This project tests whether starting high-dose corticosteroids plus immunosuppressive drugs at disease onset helps people with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease control inflammation and protect vision.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment40 (estimated)
Ages10 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Sao Paulo Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsprednisone
Locations1 site (São Paulo, São Paulo)
Trial IDNCT03399175 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective, interventional program that enrolls patients at the onset of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease and gives early systemic high-dose corticosteroids combined with immunosuppressive therapy. Patients are followed for at least 12 months with scheduled clinical exams and multimodal imaging including indocyanine green angiography and enhanced-depth imaging OCT, plus electroretinogram testing to detect subclinical choroidal inflammation. The protocol compares clinical and subclinical signs of activity over predefined intervals to characterize disease course under early combined therapy. Outcomes include inflammation control, visual function, and prevention of chronic complications such as choroidal neovascularization, cataract, and glaucoma.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: People with acute (onset) Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease who can start systemic high-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressive medication and attend in-person follow-up in São Paulo for at least one year are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Patients with long-standing or chronic/recurrent VKH at presentation, or those unwilling/unable to adhere to systemic therapy or minimum follow-up, are unlikely to gain the intended benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, early combined therapy could reduce recurrent inflammation and preserve vision by preventing chronic complications.

How similar studies have performed: Previous reports suggest early aggressive immunosuppression can improve outcomes in VKH, but systematic use of ICGA, EDI-OCT and ERG to guide and document subclinical control remains less established.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:

\- acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

Exclusion criteria:

* non collaborative patient
* minimum one-year follow-up

Where this trial is running

São Paulo, São Paulo

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Vogt Koyanagi Harada DiseaseVogt-Koyanagi-Harada diseaseImmunosuppressive therapyIndocyanine green angiographyEnhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomographyElectroretinogram
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.