Is recurrent Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease a precursor to systemic lupus erythematosus?

Abstract

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a rare, benign, self-limiting disease characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy and fever. Since KFD was first reported in 1972, the validity of this clinical entity has been controversial and its aetiology remains unknown. Herein, we report a case of a patient with KFD, which was believed to be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.