Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: report of 4 cases and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease or histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is a benign disease of unknown origin predominantly affecting young women and presenting in the form of cervical lymphadenopathy and/or prolonged fever.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors report 4 cases of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease diagnosed in the Internal Medicine Department of Ibn Sina university hospital in Rabat between 2009 and 2010.

RESULTS: These 4 women with a mean age of 27±8.6years [16-37] were admitted with febrile syndrome and cervical lymphadenopathy. The diagnosis was based on histological examination of a lymph node biopsy. The disease was associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in one case and actinomycosis in another case. A favourable course was observed in response to corticosteroid therapy in two patients, antibiotic therapy in one patient and antipyretic treatment alone in the fourth patient.

CONCLUSION: In the light of these four cases, the authors discuss the diagnostic difficulties, the modalities of treatment of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease and its clinical course.