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

Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Systemic Sclerosis Overlap: A Unique Clinical Presentation

Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease (KFD), or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL), is a rare self-limiting disorder presenting with fever and swollen lymph nodes. It is characterized by the focal proliferation of reticular cells, the presence of nuclear debris, and histiocytes. In advanced cases, it can present with hepato-splenomegaly and generalized lymphadenopathy. Historically, it has been associated with viral infections, as it frequently was found to be associated with upper respiratory symptoms. Alternative explanations include the immune response of T-cells leading to alteration in CD8-positive T-cell-mediated cell apoptosis. It is also speculated that KFD can be associated with rheumatological autoimmune diseases. We present a case of a 21-year-old African American female with a known diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-systemic sclerosis (SS) overlap presented with febrile lymphadenopathy and was diagnosed to have HNL on histological exam of lymph node biopsy.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease: A Rare Cause of Cervical Lymphadenopathy

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a rare benign disease, clinically characterized by fever and tender cervical lymphadenopathy affecting the posterior cervical lymph nodes. This disease is usually accompanied by night sweats, rashes, and headaches. It generally affects young individuals, especially females, of Oriental-Asian origin. The etiology of KFD remains uncertain, but associations have been noted with viral diseases including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), as well as autoimmune disorders including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjogren's syndrome. This review points out the etiology of KFD with cervical lymphadenopathy alongside its clinical presentation, histological highlights, lab investigations, complications, and treatment. Accurate diagnosis of this disease depends on lymph node excisional biopsy. Three histological patterns of KFD are recognized: proliferative, necrotizing, and xanthomatous. Distinction from lymphadenopathy-associated alternate disorders (e.g., SLE, malignancy, tuberculosis, or another infectious lymphadenitis) is essential to ensure appropriate therapy. This self-limited condition entails nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief with consideration of corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine in severe cases.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease and systemic lupus erythematosus

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is an infrequent idiopathic disorder. It has been associated with autoimmune disorders, of which systemic lupus erythematosus is the most outstanding. The basis of its diagnosis relies on the histological examination of lymph nodes, which typically reveals necrosis surrounded by histiocytes with crescentic nucleus, immunoblasts and plasma cells, and absence of neutrophils. We report the case of a 27-year-old Argentinian female patient without any relevant past medical history to demonstrate the correlation between Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Autoimmune manifestations of Kikuchi disease

OBJECTIVES

Kikuchi's disease (KD) has been associated with the presence of autoantibodies, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and other autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of autoimmune manifestations in a KD cohort with a long follow-up.

METHODS

Twenty patients with histologically confirmed KD since January 1990 until December 2010 were studied; 12 of them were periodically followed up as outpatients. Another 7 patients were contacted by telephone to offer them a specific consultation and a complete autoimmunity study.

RESULTS

Thirteen of 20 patients were women (65%) with a mean age of 29 years (range, 15-79). The age at diagnosis was higher in men (44 vs 27 years, P < 0.05). Lymphopenia was present in 75% of the patients (15/20) and was the more frequent hematological abnormality. The mean follow-up of the 17 patients included in the autoimmunity study was 119 months (range, 15-252). Autoimmune diseases were detected in 9 women (53%): SLE was diagnosed in 4 patients (2 SLE before, 1 simultaneous, and 1 after KD), 2 patients developed primary Sjögren's syndrome after KD, 1 thyroiditis before KD, 1 SLE-like, and 1 antiphospholipid antibodies after KD. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis was found in 2 patients; 1 of them eventually developed SLE. Female sex, painful adenopathies, and cytopenias were significantly associated with autoimmune diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with KD, only women developed autoimmune manifestations. Therefore, long-term follow-up and active surveillance of autoimmune diseases in patients with KD, especially women, are recommended.

Why is Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease misleading?

BACKGROUND

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is a rare, benign, autoimmune condition characterized by lymphadenopathy, fever, and neutropenia. KFD has also been frequently reported in association with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

REPORT

We report a case of skin manifestations in KFD characterized by malar rash, photosensitivity, panniculitic lesions, positive antinuclear antibodies and nDNA, and negative extractable nuclear antigen. A biopsy performed on deep nodules on the arms revealed an infiltrate of monocytic cells. Electron microscopy showed no lymphocytic infiltrate at or below the basal membrane and no necrotic keratinocytes within the basal cells of the epidermis.

CONCLUSION

Histological and ultrastructural data showed that skin manifestations of KFD and SLE share some common features. Electron microscopy analysis can help discriminate between the two diagnoses.

[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.

Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis in the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): Is histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis in SLE associated with skin lesions?

Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL), or Kikuchi's disease, is a benign and self-limiting lymphadenopathy that typically affects young Asian females. It presents with lymphadenopathy, usually cervical, accompanied by fever, chills and leukopenia. Although the association between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and HNL is rare, the number of reports of HNL in SLE patients is increasing. We present nine cases of HNL in patients with SLE. Among the seven patients with diverse skin manifestations, three had skin manifestations that were histologically compatible with SLE. A review of previous reports in the literature showed that cutaneous involvement was commonly found in HNL in association with SLE. In the patients who had simultaneous onset of both diseases, lupus flare-ups were commonly observed. We suggest that HNL in SLE patients is associated with cutaneous manifestations. This report contributes to our understanding of the relationship between these diseases.

Necrotizing lymphadenitis: Kikuchi--Fujimoto disease alias lupus lymphadenitis?

Differentiation between lymphadenopathy in potentially life-threatening systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and self-limiting necrotizing lymphadenitis, also called Kikuchi- Fujimoto disease (KFD), is difficult. In the past, co-occurrence of SLE and KFD has been described repeatedly in case reports. Here, we report a case of necrotizing lymphadenitis, describe the clinical and histopathologic features in detail and discuss the current literature. KFD may in fact be a histopathologic characteristic of SLE supporting the hypothesis that KFD is a rare manifestation of SLE. To clarify whether KFD is the same entity as lupus lymphadenitis, more cases with SLE and lymphadenopathy should be examined in detail.

Interface dermatitis in skin lesions of Kikuchi–Fujimoto’s disease: a histopathological marker of evolution into systemic lupus erythematosus?

Kikuchi’s disease (KD) is a self-limiting histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL). Cutaneous manifestations are frequent and usually show histopathological findings similar to those observed in the involved lymph nodes. HNL with superposed histological features to KD has been described in patients with lupus erythematosus (LE), and a group of healthy patients previously reported as having HNL may evolve into LE after several months. Up to date, features to predict which HNL patients will have a self-limiting disease and which could develop LE have been not identified. In order to clarify the characteristics of skin lesions associated with KD, we report a case of HNL with evolution into systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and a review of previous reports of KD with cutaneous manifestations. A 17-year-old woman presented with a 4-month history of fever and generalised lymphadenopathy. A diagnosis of HNL was established based on a lymph node biopsy. One month later, she developed an erythematoedematous rash on her upper body, with histopathological findings of interface dermatitis. After 8 months, anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) at titre of 1/320, anti-DNA-ds antibodies and marked decrease of complement levels were detected. During the following 2 years, she developed diagnostic criteria for SLE, with arthralgias, pleuritis, aseptic meningitis, haemolytic anaemia and lupus nephritis. To our knowledge, 27 cases of nodal and cutaneous KD have been reported, 9 of which later developed LE. In all these patients, the skin biopsy revealed interface dermatitis. Skin biopsy revealed a pattern of interface dermatitis in all reviewed KD cases, which evolved into LE. Even this histopathological finding was not previously considered significant; it might be a marker of evolution into LE.

Kikuchi's disease: case report and systematic review of cutaneous and histopathologic presentations

Kikuchi's disease, also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a systemic illness with classic clinical findings of cervical lymphadenopathy and fever. Diagnosis is confirmed by lymph node histology, which reveals paracortical foci of necrosis and a histiocytic infiltrate. Kikuchi's disease has been associated with a number of infections, but no single source has been identified. Diverse, often nonspecific, cutaneous findings have been described in up to 40% of cases. Description of the histopathologic findings of skin lesions is limited to single case reports and one case series. We describe a 24-year-old woman with fevers, lymphadenopathy, hepatic and hematologic abnormalities, and a skin eruption involving the face, neck, trunk, and extremities with characteristic lymph node and cutaneous histopathologic findings. We completed a systematic review of the clinical presentations and histopathology of Kikuchi's disease.

Autoimmune hepatitis associated with Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease

We describe a 20-year-old woman with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) with cirrhosis who developed Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease (KFD) and de novo minor features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This is the first report of a patient with histologically confirmed AIH developing KFD (histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis). One previous case described KFD after AIH (diagnosed clinically but without biopsy). KFD is a rare condition of unknown aetiology, first described in 1972, characterized by fever and cervical adenopathy and has a self-limiting course. KFD is associated with SLE, and SLE in turn can be associated with abnormal liver function tests, which in a minority of cases may be due to AIH. The association of AIH, KFD, and SLE in our patient suggests an autoimmune pathogenesis of KFD.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease: A Report of 3 Cases

Cervical lymphadenopathy has many underlying etiologies. One of its rare causes is Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (Kikuchi's disease, histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis). We discovered such a cause in a 37-year-old woman who had presented with malaise, night sweats, and weight loss in addition to cervical lymphadenopathy. We based our diagnosis on excisional lymph node biopsy. We also review 2 other cases of Kikuchi's disease that were diagnosed by others at our institution. Clinically and histologically, Kikuchi's disease is very similar to lymphoma, and distinguishing the two is difficult. However, despite the fact that Kikuchi's disease is benign, an accurate diagnosis is important because misdiagnosis might lead to unnecessary surgery and/or chemotherapy.