Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease.

BACKGROUND

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease is a benign and self-limited disease, first reported in Japan in 1972. The characteristic features of this disorder include lymphadenopathy and fever.

OBJECTIVES

To summarize our experience with Kikuchi disease with regard to clinical manifestations and outcome.

METHODS

The patients included in the study were those diagnosed with Kikuchi disease during the years 2005-2008 in two departments of internal medicine at Sheba Medical Center.

RESULTS

We identified five patients with Kikuchi disease; four were women and the mean age was 22.6 years. All the patients had cervical lymphadenopathy; three had other sites of lymphadenopathy. Four of the patients had fever higher than 39 degrees C. Two of them had splenomegaly and three reported weight loss. Three of the five patients experienced a relapse of the disease and were treated with steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. The diagnosis was confirmed in all the patients by an excisional biopsy of lymph node.

CONCLUSIONS

Kikuchi disease must be considered in every young patient with fever and lymphadenopathy. The disease usually has a benign course.