KIKUCHIS DISEASE AS A PRESENTING FEATURE OF MIXED CONNECTIVE-TISSUE DISEASE

Necrotising histiocytic lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease) is a recogni sed cause of benign lymphadenopathy. It has been reported in associati on with both adult Still's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) , and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). We report a case of mixe d connective tissue disease (MCTD), in which biopsy of enlarged lymph nodes occurring as a presenting feature showed the characteristic feat ures of Kikuchi's disease. This finding supports the belief that Kikuc hi's disease and the autoimmune rheumatic disorders may share a common aetiology.