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°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.