HISTIOCYTIC NECROTIZING LYMPHADENITIS, KIKUCHI-FUJIMOTOS-DISEASE, ASSOCIATED WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMOTOSUS

Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, Kikuchi-Fujimoto's Disease (KFD ), is a condition rarely associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The diagnosis of KFD can precede, postdate or coincide with the diagnosis of SLE. Lymphadenopathy is a common clinical presentation o f KFD and SLE, and is histologically indistinguishable in both conditi ons. We describe two cases of KFD associated with SLE. The diagnosis o f KFD in one case was made several years before the diagnosis of SLE, and the other was simultaneous. Both showed large lymphadenopathy, but neither fever nor neutropenia. Lymph-node biopsy showed necrosis, wit h proliferation of histiocytes and immunoblasts, paucity of neutrophil s and absence of hemathoxilin bodies. Both patients responded favourab ly to steroid treatment. Patients with KFD should be assessed for SLE and have long-term follow-up checking for development of SLE. KFD shou ld be ruled out in SLE flare-up accompanied by lymphadenopathy.