Autoimmune Manifestations of Kikuchi Disease

Objectives Kikuchi's disease (KD) has been associated with the presence of autoantibodies, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and other autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of autoimmune manifestations in a KD cohort with a long follow-up. Methods Twenty patients with histologically confirmed KD since January 1990 until December 2010 were studied; 12 of them were periodically followed up as outpatients. Another 7 patients were contacted by telephone to offer them a specific consultation and a complete autoimmunity study. Results Thirteen of 20 patients were women (65%) with a mean age of 29 years (range, 15-79). The age at diagnosis was higher in men (44 vs 27 years, P Conclusions Among patients with KD, only women developed autoimmune manifestations. Therefore, long-term follow-up and active surveillance of autoimmune diseases in patients with KD, especially women, are recommended.