Kikuchi Disease 

  • Author: John Boone, MD; Chief Editor: Emmanuel C Besa, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 10, 2012
 

Background

Kikuchi disease, also called histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis or Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, is an uncommon, idiopathic, generally self-limited cause of lymphadenitis.[1, 2] Kikuchi first described the disease in 1972 in Japan. Fujimoto and colleagues independently described Kikuchi disease in the same year.

The most common clinical manifestation of Kikuchi disease is cervical lymphadenopathy, with or without systemic signs and symptoms.[3, 4, 5, 6] Clinically and histologically, the disease can be mistaken for lymphoma or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).[1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16] Kikuchi disease almost always runs a benign course and resolves in several weeks to months. Disease recurrence is unusual, and fatalities are rare, although they have been reported.[1, 17]

For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Blood and Lymphatic System Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles Swollen Lymph Glands and Lymphoma.

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Pathophysiology

The cause of Kikuchi disease is unknown, although infectious and autoimmune etiologies have been proposed.[18] The most favored theory proposes that Kikuchi disease results when one or more unidentified agents trigger a self-limited autoimmune process. Lymphadenitis results from apoptotic cell death induced by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Some human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genes are more frequent in patients with Kikuchi disease, suggesting a genetic predisposition to the proposed autoimmune response.

Features that support a role for an infectious agent include the generally self-limited course of the disease and its frequent association with symptoms similar to those of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Several viral candidates have been proposed, including cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus,[19] human herpesvirus, varicella-zoster virus, parainfluenza virus, parvovirus B19, and paramyxovirus. However, serologic and molecular studies have failed to link Kikuchi disease to a specific pathogen, and more than one pathogen may be capable of triggering the characteristic hyperimmune reaction leading to Kikuchi disease.

Several authors have reported an association between Kikuchi disease and SLE. Kikuchi disease has been diagnosed before, during, and after a diagnosis of SLE was made in the same patient. Additionally, the histologic appearance of lymph nodes in patients with Kikuchi disease is similar to that of lymph nodes in patients with SLE lymphadenitis. Some authors have suggested that Kikuchi disease may represent a forme fruste SLE, but this theory has not been substantiated, and the association of Kikuchi disease with SLE, if any, remains unclear.

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Epidemiology

Frequency

United States

Kikuchi disease is uncommon. Only isolated cases are reported in North America.

International

Although uncommon, Kikuchi disease has been reported throughout the world and in all races. Most cases have been reported from East Asia, with fewer cases from Europe and North America.

Mortality/Morbidity

The course of Kikuchi disease is generally benign and self-limited. Lymphadenopathy most often resolves over several weeks to 6 months, although the disease occasionally persists longer. The disease recurs in about 3% of cases. Three deaths have been reported that occurred during the acute phase of generalized Kikuchi disease. One patient died from cardiac failure; the second, from the effects of hepatic and pulmonary involvement; and the last, from an acute lupuslike syndrome. Another fatality has been reported in which Kikuchi disease appeared concurrently with SLE and was complicated with hemophagocytic syndrome and severe infection.[1]

Race

Kikuchi disease was first diagnosed and described in Japan. To date, most cases have been reported from East Asia. More recently, the disease has been reported throughout the world and in all races. Outside of Asia, it is possible that Kikuchi disease has been underdiagnosed and therefore underreported. Dorfman and Berry reported 108 cases, including 68 in the United States; 63% of the 108 patients were white.

Sex

The initial studies of Kikuchi disease reported women were affected more often than men by a ratio of approximately 3:1. However, more recent studies have shown a smaller female preponderance, with a ratio closer to 1.25:1.

Age

Kikuchi disease occurs in a wide age range of patients (ie, 2-75 y), but it typically affects young adults (mean age, 20-30 y).

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

John Boone, MD  Consulting Staff, Department of Otolaryngology, Naval Hospital Oak Harbor

John Boone, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Charles S Kuzma, MD  Consulting Staff, Clinical Research Coordinator, First Health of the Carolinas Cancer Center

Charles S Kuzma, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society of Hematology, and California Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Karen Seiter, MD  Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology/Hematology, New York Medical College

Karen Seiter, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Physicians, and American Society of Hematology

Disclosure: Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Novartis Consulting fee Speaking and teaching; Eisai Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Celgene Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Lawrence H Brent, MD  Associate Professor of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University; Chair, Program Director, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Albert Einstein Medical Center

Lawrence H Brent, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Immunologists, American College of Physicians, and American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Abbott Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Genentech Grant/research funds Other; HGS/GSK Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Omnicare Consulting fee Consulting; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Roche Speaking and teaching; Savient Honoraria Speaking and teaching; UCB Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP  Southwest Medical Consultants, SC, Department of Medicine, Good Samaritan Hospital, Advocate Health Systems

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Emmanuel C Besa, MD  Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Kimmel Cancer Center, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University

Emmanuel C Besa, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Education, American College of Clinical Pharmacology, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and New York Academy of Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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