Histiocytic necrotising lymphadenitis insystemic lupuserythematosus

necrotising lymphadenitis isthe pathognomonic histological appearance of lymph nodesinKikuchi's disease, acondition characterised byabrief systemic illness and lymphadenopathy. Thecaseisdescribed ofa youngman, originally diagnosed as havingKikuchi's disease by lymphnodehistology, who subsequently developed systemic lupusery- thematosus withsymmetrical polyarthritis, Coombs'positive haemolytic anaemia and haemorrhagic pneumonitis. The caseem- phasises that arange ofdiseases isassociated withhistiocytic necrotising lymphadenitis, belying theunitary impression given bythe termKikuchi's disease.