[Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease]

Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease: Report of a Case with Progression to Lupus Nephritis

Patient: Female, 28-year-old

Final Diagnosis: Kikuchi-Fujimoto Lymphadenitis • lupus nephritis

Symptoms: Agitation • anxiety • arthralgia • diarhea • fatigue • fever • headache • lymfadenopathy • sweating • weigh loss

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: —

Specialty: Rheumatology

About a rare disease misdiagnosed as malignant lymphoma or tuberculosis: Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease

Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease KFD is a rare and benign cause of cervical lymphadenopathy. It is an anatomoclinical entity of unknown etiology. The confirmation of the diagnosis is always provided by histological lymph node study. The clinical picture sometimes evokes lymphoma or tuberculosis. The evolution is generally favorable with spontaneous healing after a few weeks. We report the case of a 26-year-old woman who had consulted for cervical lymphadenopathy associated with fever. The cervical lymph node biopsy concluded to Kikuch-Fujimoto's disease. The evolution was marked by rapid regression of lymphadenopathy under corticosteroid treatment.

[Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: about a case]

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is a rare cause of benign cervical adenopathies. It is an anatomoclinic entity of unknown cause. Diagnosis is based on histologic examination of the lymph nodes. Patient's evolution is generally favorable with spontaneous healing after a few weeks. We here report the case of a 9-year old girl presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy associated with fever. Cervical lymph node biopsy showed Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. Patient's evolution was marked by regression of adenopathies without receiving any treatment.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, a rare cause of lymphadenopathy in Africa. Description of the first case in Senegal and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a benign disease most commonly affecting adult females. It generally presents in the form of febrile cervical lymphadenopathy. This diagnosis must be considered in the setting of tropical medicine, dominated by a high prevalence of tuberculous lymphadenitis and haematological malignancies.

CASE REPORT

The authors report the case of a 33-year-old Senegalese woman who presented with subacute cervical lymphadenopathy associated with fever and laboratory signs of inflammation. Serological and tuberculosis screening tests were negative. Histopathological examination of a lymph node biopsy, following failure of nonspecific antibiotic therapy, concluded on a diagnosis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease. A favourable course was observed in response to corticosteroid therapy.

CONCLUSION

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the association of polyadenitis and febrile syndrome, after excluding tuberculosis and lymphomas, must raise the suspicion of rare diseases such as Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease.

Acute Liver Failure Secondary to Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis during Pregnancy

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a syndrome of excessive immune activation that mimics and occurs with other systemic diseases. A 35-year-old female presented with signs of viral illness at 13 weeks of pregnancy and progressed to acute liver failure (ALF). We discuss the diagnosis of HLH and Kikuchi-Fujimoto (KF) lymphadenitis in the context of pregnancy and ALF. HLH may respond to comorbid disease-specific therapy, and more toxic treatment can be avoided.

Simultaneous Acquired Self-limited Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Kikuchi Necrotizing Lymphadenitis in a 16-Year-Old Teenage Girl: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to increase education and awareness among pediatric practitioners of possibility of simultaneous hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease/Kikuchi disease occurring in the pediatric population and the diagnostic dilemma it can present. We describe a case presentation of acquired and self-limited simultaneous hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in a 16-year-old in the United States who presented with fevers, night sweats, and joint pain, along with tiredness and decreased appetite along with pancytopenia and elevated lactate dehydrogenase. To the best of our knowledge, simultaneous hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and Kikuchi-Fujimoto in the pediatric population has not been described in North America but remains fairly common in Asia. The literature on both diseases and their simultaneous occurrence is comprehensively reviewed.

METHODS

This was a case report and review of the literature.

RESULTS

The patient was diagnosed with both hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease based on bone marrow aspiration/biopsy and axillary node biopsy, respectively. Both illnesses resolved completely.

CONCLUSIONS

Benign causes of pancytopenia and elevated lactate dehydrogenase exist, but they may not be always straightforward diagnostically. Bone marrow aspiration and lymph node biopsy may be helpful in ascertaining the diagnosis. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease may represent a continuum of illness.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: retrospective study of 91 cases and review of the literature

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare cause of lymphadenopathy, most often cervical. It has been mainly described in Asia. There are few data available on this disease in Europe. We conducted this retrospective, observational, multicenter study to describe KFD in France and to determine the characteristics of severe forms of the disease and forms associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We included 91 cases of KFD, diagnosed between January 1989 and January 2011 in 13 French hospital centers (median age, 30 ± 10.4 yr; 77% female). The ethnic origins of the patients were European (33%), Afro-Caribbean (32%), North African (15.4%), and Asian (13%). Eighteen patients had a history of systemic disease, including 11 with SLE. Lymph node involvement was cervical (90%), often in the context of polyadenopathy (52%), and it was associated with hepatomegaly and splenomegaly in 14.8% of cases. Deeper sites of involvement were noted in 18% of cases. Constitutional signs consisted mainly of fever (67%), asthenia (74.4%), and weight loss (51.2%). Other manifestations included skin rash (32.9%), arthromyalgia (34.1%), 2 cases of aseptic meningitis, and 3 cases of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Biological signs included lymphocytopenia (63.8%) and increase of acute phase reactants (56.4%). Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and anti-DNA antibodies were present in 45.2% and 18% of the patients sampled, respectively. Concomitant viral infection was detected in 8 patients (8.8%). Systemic corticosteroids were prescribed in 32% of cases, hydroxychloroquine in 17.6%, and intravenous immunoglobulin in 3 patients. The disease course was always favorable. Recurrence was observed in 21% of cases. In the 33 patients with ANA at diagnosis, SLE was known in 11 patients, diagnosed concomitantly in 10 cases and in the year following diagnosis in 2 cases; 6 patients did not have SLE, and 4 patients were lost to follow-up (median follow-up, 19 mo; range, 3-39 mo). The presence of weight loss, arthralgia, skin lesions, and ANA was associated with the development of SLE (p < 0.05). Male sex and lymphopenia were associated with severe forms of KFD (p < 0.05). KFD can occur in all populations, irrespective of ethnic origin. Deep forms are common. An association with SLE should be investigated. A prospective study is required to determine the risk factors for the development of SLE.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: retrospective study of 91 cases and review of the literature

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare cause of lymphadenopathy, most often cervical. It has been mainly described in Asia. There are few data available on this disease in Europe. We conducted this retrospective, observational, multicenter study to describe KFD in France and to determine the characteristics of severe forms of the disease and forms associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We included 91 cases of KFD, diagnosed between January 1989 and January 2011 in 13 French hospital centers (median age, 30 ± 10.4 yr; 77% female). The ethnic origins of the patients were European (33%), Afro-Caribbean (32%), North African (15.4%), and Asian (13%). Eighteen patients had a history of systemic disease, including 11 with SLE. Lymph node involvement was cervical (90%), often in the context of polyadenopathy (52%), and it was associated with hepatomegaly and splenomegaly in 14.8% of cases. Deeper sites of involvement were noted in 18% of cases. Constitutional signs consisted mainly of fever (67%), asthenia (74.4%), and weight loss (51.2%). Other manifestations included skin rash (32.9%), arthromyalgia (34.1%), 2 cases of aseptic meningitis, and 3 cases of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Biological signs included lymphocytopenia (63.8%) and increase of acute phase reactants (56.4%). Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and anti-DNA antibodies were present in 45.2% and 18% of the patients sampled, respectively. Concomitant viral infection was detected in 8 patients (8.8%). Systemic corticosteroids were prescribed in 32% of cases, hydroxychloroquine in 17.6%, and intravenous immunoglobulin in 3 patients. The disease course was always favorable. Recurrence was observed in 21% of cases. In the 33 patients with ANA at diagnosis, SLE was known in 11 patients, diagnosed concomitantly in 10 cases and in the year following diagnosis in 2 cases; 6 patients did not have SLE, and 4 patients were lost to follow-up (median follow-up, 19 mo; range, 3-39 mo). The presence of weight loss, arthralgia, skin lesions, and ANA was associated with the development of SLE (p < 0.05). Male sex and lymphopenia were associated with severe forms of KFD (p < 0.05). KFD can occur in all populations, irrespective of ethnic origin. Deep forms are common. An association with SLE should be investigated. A prospective study is required to determine the risk factors for the development of SLE.

[An atypical presentation of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease]

INTRODUCTION

Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease) is a rare clinical entity characterized by the association of enlarged lymph nodes in the posterior cervical region and fever. The disease is more frequent in young women.

CASE REPORT

We report a 41-year-old African patient who presented with atypical features of Kikuchi's disease including cutaneous lupus, haemophagocytosis, and lymphocytic meningitis. The ethnic origin and the clinical presentation were initially suggestive of tuberculous meningitis. However, microbiological analyses remained negative, histological findings were suggestive of Kikuchi's disease and HHV6 DNA integration was documented in our patient.

CONCLUSION

Kikuchi's disease should be suspected in an African patient when lymphocytic meningitis is associated with enlarged cervical lymph nodes, hemophagocytosis and HHV6 DNA integration.

[Kikuchi disease and lupus: case report, literature review and FDG PET/CT interest]

Kikuchi disease is a rare entity characterized by lymphadenopathy and fever. Pathology study of lymph node biopsies provides the diagnosis. The disease course is favorable. The disease can occur isolated, or associated with other pathologies including lupus or mixed connective tissue disease. We report a case of Kikuchi disease in a 35-year-old woman, occurring 12 years after the diagnosis of overlap syndrome with antiphospholipid antibodies. The patient was given prednisone 25mg per day and long-term hydroxychloroquine. FDG PET/CT showed FDG-avidity nodular masses. After bolus corticosteroid therapy, outcome was favorable with disappearance of metabolic hyperactivity on the FDG PET/CT. The bolus prednisone treatment could then be discontinued. In the 61 cases of Kikuchi disease and lupus associations previously published, Kikuchi disease was diagnosed after lupus in only 13 % of the observations. In these cases, use of FDG PET/ CT was not reported. For us, FDG PET/CT was useful for diagnosis, for choosing the biopsy site and for follow-up.