Necrotizing lymphadenitis in systemic lupus erythematosus: is it Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease?

Abstract

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD; also called Kikuchi disease) is a rare disorder clinically characterized by lymphadenopathy along with constitutional symptoms and several systemic features which may closely mimic infections, malignancies, and autoimmune diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder which may have several clinical manifestations similar to KFD. Association of KFD with SLE is only rarely described, and whether this is a chance incidence or Kikuchi disease is a localized manifestation of SLE per se remains a matter of debate. We report here coexistence of these two diseases in 1 patient.