Is Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease a manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus?

A 32-year-old woman presented with fever and swelling in the axillae of 2 months' duration, and erythema of the face, fluid-filled lesions on the trunk, oral ulcers, crusting of the lips, and redness and watering of the eyes for 3 days. The patient was initially diagnosed with tuberculous lymphadenitis and was given antituberculous treatment. One month later, she developed the present complaints (see below). The patient was photosensitive. There was no joint pain or Raynaud's phenomenon. She had experienced three intrauterine deaths in the past with no live births. On examination, the patient was pale. Bilateral axillary lymphadenopathy was present. The lymph nodes were mobile, non-tender, and not matted. Mucocutaneous examination revealed a malar eruption, flaccid bullae on the back (Fig. 1), crusting of the lips (Fig. 2), oral ulcers, and redness and discharge from the eyes. On investigation, immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA for tuberculosis were negative. There was anemia and leukopenia, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was raised, albumin in urine was positive, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was negative, and venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test was nonreactive. Antinuclear antibody (ANA), dsDNA, and antiphospholipid antibody were positive. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the axillary lymph node showed loss of nodal architecture. The extensive infiltrate consisted of lymphocytes, histiocytes, immunoblasts, and necrosis of cortical and paracortical areas. There was histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis without granulocytic infiltration. These features were suggestive of Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease (Fig. 3). Skin biopsy showed epidermal atrophy, basal cell vacuolation, focal hyperkeratosis, pilosebaceous atrophy, and follicular plugging. The dermis showed edema and a lymphocytic infiltrate in the upper dermis and around the blood vessels. These features were suggestive of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Direct immunofluorescence of lesional skin showed a strong continuous basement membrane zone (BMZ) band of C3 and fibrinogen and a strong discontinuous granular BMZ band of IgG. IgA was negative. Covered skin showed moderate and strong positivity for IgM and IgG, respectively. C3, IgA, and fibrinogen were negative. These findings were suggestive of SLE (Fig. 4). Based on the clinical findings and investigations, a diagnosis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease with SLE was made.

Clinical and laboratory manifestations of Kikuchi's disease in children and differences between patients with and without prolonged fever

BACKGROUND

Kikuchi's disease (KD) is characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy with or without fever. It has been recognized worldwide but seldom reported in pediatric patients.

METHODS

From January 1985 through December 2001, 64 patients younger than 18 years of age with pathologic proof of KD were enrolled in this study. The clinical manifestations, laboratory data and outcomes were reviewed.

RESULTS

There were 35 male patients and 29 female patients with age ranging from 2 to 18 years and a median age of 16. All patients had cervical lymphadenopathy except 1 who had generalized lymphadenopathy. Lymph nodes of 32 patients (50%) were painful or tender or both. Lymphadenopathy was unilateral in 52 patients (82.5%). Lymphadenopathy associated with fever was observed in 21 patients (32.8%). Other signs such as skin rash, hepatomegaly or body weight loss were less common. Twenty-six patients (40.6%) had leukopenia and 2 patients had leukocytosis. Nearly one-fourth of the patients had mild liver dysfunction. Virologic or immunologic studies were normal in most patients. Patients with prolonged fever were more likely to have leukopenia (P < 0.05). All patients recovered, but 1 developed systemic lupus erythematosus 5 years later, and the other had vasculitis syndrome 2 years later.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical presentation of KD in pediatric patients is similar to that of adults. KD is a benign, self-limiting disease; prolonged fever occurred only in 32.8% of pediatric patients in our cohort. Leukopenia was the only feature significantly associated with prolonged fever.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease with papulopustular skin manifestations

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease commonly presents with cervical lymphadenopathy accompanied by fever, myalgia, neutropaenia, and rarely cutaneous eruption. Most cutaneous lesions present as erythematous macules, papules, plaques, nodules, or ulcers on the upper part of the body such as trunk, upper extremities, and face. We present a case of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease with a papulopustular eruption on the whole body including the lower extremities.

Kikuchi's disease and the skin: case report and review of the literature

We report scattered indurated erythematous lesions that presented in an 18-year-old Japanese man with Kikuchi's disease (KD; histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis). A skin biopsy showed a proliferation of histiocytes and abundant nuclear debris without the presence of neutrophils, which is characteristic of KD. The specific dermatological and pathological details of KD have been yet to be fully described. In order to assess the typical skin features of KD better, we have reviewed all the previously well-documented reports of such lesions. As the clinical and histopathological cutaneous findings in KD are so heterogeneous, it is important that scattered indurated erythematous lesions should be included as one of the possible cutaneous manifestations of this disease.